Rebecca Staples

Rebecca Ellis Staples, known as “Becky,” to family and close friends was born September 22, 1936, in Lone Star, South Carolina to the late Johnnie and Ernestine Ellis. She departed this life on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at Jacob Medical Center, Bronx, New York.

Rebecca went to Cedar Grove Elementary School. She attended John Ford High School and St. John High School in Cameron, SC where she graduated in 1948. She left South Carolina and came to New York City where she met and married Private John Henry Staples. This union produced their beloved son Stanley Maurice Staples.

Rebecca worked at Lenox Hill Hospital, as a Licensed Practical Nurse for 36 years. During her career she went to Columbia Institution and Hunter College for Nursing. She loved helping people and her kindness was reflected in her work. She received many recognitions and awards for her excellence and work ethic. During the closing of her career, she received many loving letters and beautiful gifts from the patients and doctors she worked with over the years. She retired in 2003.

One day while her sister Lizze Johnson was studying with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Rebecca was eavesdropping; and liked what she heard. It was from there that she developed an unwavering love for Jehovah and dedicated her life to Him on November 7, 1960. She attended the Concourse Congregation and the Soundview Congregation in Bronx, NY. She was a faithful servant for the last 65 years of her life.

Rebecca loved visiting her family home in Cameron, South Carolina. Like her mother Ms. Ernestine, she was a true example of southern hospitality, and anyone who visited the farm was going to be fed anything from fried chicken to southern style potato salad, BBQ ribs, and 7-Up cake. Whether she was on the farm in the south or entertaining in her apartment in the Bronx, that spirit of southern hospitality followed and was passed down to her son Stanley.

Rebecca also loved the arts, museums, travel, and music. Let us not forget she was a true fashion diva throughout her life. Her style of dress was always amazing.

She was preceded in death by her sisters Ethel, and Lizzie, her brothers George Ellis, Ezekiel Ellis, Eddie Ellis, and Jake Ellis.

Rebecca Ellis Staples leaves to cherish her memory her beloved son Stanley Maurice Staples of Bronx, NY, a loving Sister Patricia A. Ellis of Brooklyn, NY, her niece Camille Selby, Brooklyn, NY, her great niece Makeda F. Selby Freycinet, her granddaughter Liah Rose Torres, and her grandson Elvin Torres both of Bronx, NY and her lifelong best friend Clara Snead, Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Ellis Staples family is grateful to Charmise Johnson; her caregiver, daughter and friend for the last 4 years of her life. She was with her to the very end.

We also want to thank Jacquelyne Hill who was part of the care team for Rebecca; we are grateful.

Thank you also to Charlie and Cynthia Thompson for their years of care for their sister-in-their faith; she loves you both.

Rebecca was a Faithful Servant, Loving Mother, Loving Sister, Loving Aunt, Loving Grandmother, and Spiritual Mother for many over the years.

Sister Rebecca Ellis Staples would tell us all:

“Don’t You Cry, Don’t Worry About Me; I Am Going To Be Okay.”