Elnora "Ellie" Huskins

Elnora (Ellie) Huskins

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C./NEWARK, N.Y. _ Elnora (Ellie) Huskins, 76, went to be with the Lord on the 24^th day of August 2015 as she was lovingly surrounded by her family at her home in Newark.

 A Celebration of Her Life for friends and family will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday September 5^th at the home of her sister, Hazel Ballard, at 59 Chastain Lane, East Flat Rock, North Carolina.

 Ellie, the daughter of the late Norman H. and Vernie Bogan Mashburn of Hendersonville, was born on October 20^th 1938 at her parent’s home in Dana, N.C. She was raised on an apple farm in Upward, N.C. and attended school in Dana until she married Thomas Higgins Ledbetter from Edneyville, N.C. in 1954.

 Ellie was a woman of many talents. She was a self-taught piano player and often enjoyed entertaining others by playing spiritual songs, including her favorite, “On the Wings of a Dove.” She always hoped her children would learn to play the piano, but had to wait for one of her grandchildren, Spencer Edmonds, to realize that dream. She was a racecar driver (drag racing) long before it was acceptable for women to racecars and prided herself in always being able to beat her husband on the racetrack.

She loved flowers and owned and operated Jackson’s Flower shop in downtown Hendersonville for almost 10 years. But more than flowers, Ellie loved people and never considered anyone a stranger. She made friends easily and was always willing to help others, no matter the cost. Most of all she loved her family. She was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, grandma and a devoted friend to many. Oh, she was also an AVID Dallas Cowboys fan, but then nobody’s perfect. 


Besides her sister, Hazel, she is survived by her son Thomas (Diane Barnard) Ledbetter of Newark, N.Y; her daughters, Christina Carter of Asheville, N.C. and Rebecca Hill of Upward, N.C.; her step children, Alan Huskins, Lisa Huskins, Janice (Gil) Blancas and Debbie (Steve) Christy; her grandchildren Tony, Tina, Thomas, Sarah, Allie, Brantley, C.J., Matthew, Spencer, Shane, Simeon, Carmen, J.J., Becka, Sara and Rachel; one special niece, Lisa (Aaron) Gunderson; nephews Brett Ballard, TJ (Brooke) Ballard, Rick (Christie) Sain, Michael (Tracy) Sain; 12 great grandchildren and 14 grandnieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents; her son, Jeffrey Dean Ledbetter of Fruitland, N.C., her sister, Dixie Sain of East Flat Rock, N.C. and she and her sister Hazel’s beloved dog, Beastie.

Ellie wanted her journey to the Lord to bring life and joy to others, so in lieu of flowers, the family requests that you plant a tree or plant in memory of someone who loved greatly and was greatly loved by her friends and family. Ellie will be greatly missed.