Lou Ella (Dickey) Rhames

Lou Ella Rhames (Ella) was born July 6, 1949 in Sumter County South Carolina to beloved parents, Curtis Dickey Sr. and Gertrude Lowery Dickey, who precede Lou Ella in death. Ella was the youngest of six children. Her oldest sibling Letha May Benjamin also preceded her in death. Ella grew up in St John United Methodist Church where she was a very active member by singing in the choir and ushering. After graduating from high school, Lou Ella (Ella), moved to Washington DC to join her two sisters Letha and Ann. Washington D.C. would be where she would meet and marry the love of her life for 46 years, Alvin Rhames. Their union would later produce a son named Alvin Rhames Jr.

Ella graduated from the Calvinade Beauty School in Washington DC. and went on to work in the beauty and hair styling industry for 29 years. Ella would spend the majority of her career working at the Watergate Hair Salon and Day Spa in Washington, D.C. where she styled many dignitaries and celebrities, including but not limited to Condoleezza Rice, (The 66 United States Secretary of State) Audrey Meadows (who portrayed the mother-in-law from TV show, "Too Close for Comfort") and Dean Stapleton (who starred as "Edith Bunker " on the tv comedy show" All in the family).  Ella was a very graceful, fun loving giving lady, who would do anything for anyone.

While living in Washington DC, Ella was a devoted member of Rehoboth Baptist Church where she also sung on the choir and served as an usher. In 2006 Alvin and Ella purchased their home in Florence South Carolina, not far from where she was born. In 2009 Ella's husband Alvin says, "she came home one day and told me she had quit her job and was ready to move back to South Carolina". Over the years Ella was known to keep a very eloquent and well decorated home. Many believed that she missed her true calling as an interior decorator.

Ella continued her commitment to God by joining and committing her life to God's work at Mt Olive Baptist Church and was also a member of the Deliso Social Club. Sadly, after a long battle with cancer Ella went home to be with the LORD on November 18, 2017 at 3:44 am. Before passing on, she stated that " I have made peace with the LORD".

Ella leaves to cherish her memories, her loving husband and friend Alvin Rhames Sr.; her son and his wife Alvin Jr. and Kim Rhames and her granddaughter Nina Rhames as well as her step-son Christopher Rhames and her step granddaughters Crystal Rhames and Callie Rhames along with her brothers John Dickey (Lucille) and Curtis Dickey (Geraldine) and her sister Laura Ann Henderson (Ronald) and host of nieces and nephews and her very best friend Radine P. Tate. She will be truly missed.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 12pm at Historic Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Mullins, SC. The Reverend Jeremy Bethea, Pastor.

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