Sylvester "Moochie" Ellis was born in Columbus, MS on January 18, 1948. He was born to Mitt Ellis Jr. and Sarah Elizabeth Ellis who were respectively 39 and 37 at the time. Mitt passed away on October 29, 1988 and Sarah passed away on July 31, 1990. Sarah’s parents were Alsie and Joseph Wallace. Joseph was a farmer and Sarah was a helper on the farm. Mitt Ellis Jr. was born to Mitt Ellis and Anna Chandter. Mitt Jr. was a farmer. Mitt and Sarah Ellis had four children: Ruth Evelyn, Osca, Alice, and Sylvester. Sylvester had one daughter.
Ayandria "Yan" Windham-Barry
Sylvester's daughter Ayandria Barry received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Mississippi University for Women and continued on to earn a Master’s degree from Strayer University. She worked at Army Wounded Warrior where she served as an A-W2 Advocate. It was her goal to honor her father’s memory and inform military families about the benefits that are available to them. She serves on the committee on the CLRA Annual Thanksgiving Day meal delivery event, and on the board of the Rippon-Landing Homeowners Association.
She was an avid volunteer in her community back in Washington and Virginia, and frequently participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Before she passed away, she was trying to create a non-profit organization named "New Normal“ to aid in helping cancer survivors. She has a daughter and a son. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and passed away from it on March 3, 2018. Her funeral was held at Southside Missionary Baptist Church. Barry was buried in Memorial Gardens Cemetery, in Columbus, MS. There was a team that marched in her honor at a cancer walk under the name of New Normal Chapter.