Services will be held in the days to come for Rockmart City Manager Jeff Ellis, who died early Friday morning from complications caused by COVID-19.

Ellis, who was 67, had served the City of Rockmart first as the Fire Chief through the mid-1990s, and then the past 25 years as City Manager. He left behind his wife Ginger, his two children Matt and Jennifer, and several grandchildren.

Alvis Miller and Son Funeral Home announced in a brief obituary that services are coming up on Wednesday, January 20 at 3 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Rockmart. An internment service will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery.

The announcement added that the city will honor Ellis, who will lie instate in the City Council Chambers prior to funeral services.

His term as City Manager in Rockmart included what he considered his greatest accomplishment, the remodel of the old Rockmart High School into today’s City Complex instead of letting the structure continue to lie dormant.

Last year, Ellis was a guest on Talking Points on Polk Today discussing his career and the future of Rockmart.

Sadly, his brother Gregg Ellis died on Tuesday at the age of 64.

Rockmart Fire Chief Todd Queen will likely continue as the acting City Manager for the time being. He was already undertaking the role after Ellis became ill with COVID-19 and was hospitalized for the symptoms last week.

According to Mayor Sherman Ross in a forthcoming Talking Points on Polk Today episode next week, Ellis had established that Queen would fill-in last year when the city began planning for contingencies for what would happen if certain administrative staff members fell ill, and who would take on their roles in the interim until they were healthy enough to return.

The City of Rockmart joined the City of Cedartown and City of Aragon in shutting down their offices to the public during recent spikes for the virus.

Check back for additional details, including the full obituary for Ellis when it becomes available.