Nov.
13, 1952 - Dec. 26, 2009SOUTH BEND - Ms. Rita M. McKnight, 58, of Lawndale Ave., South Bend, Indiana departed from this life on Saturday, December 26, 2009. Rita was born on November 13, 1952 in South Bend, Indiana to the union of James Edward and Mary (Banks) Ellis. She has been employed by Healthwin Nursing Facility as a nurse's aid along with various other jobs. Rita loved children, playing cards and was a former member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church under the pasturage of the late Reverend Derrickson. Rita leaves to mourn her loss, two sons, Samuel Merriweather of South Bend and Andre O'Neal of Cleveland, Ohio; three grandchildren, Andre O'Neal Jr., of Dallas, Texas, Samuel Merriweather Jr., of South Bend and Joseph O'Neal of Cleveland, Ohio; her mother, Mary Ellis of South Bend; sisters, Catherine Ellis, South Bend, Hattie Hurd, Houston of Houston, Texas and Martha Ellis of Columbus, Ohio; brothers, Floyd (Hazel) Ellis of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Frank Ellis of South Bend and James ("C C") Ellis Jr., of Dallas, Texas; nieces, Tameka Ellis of Lexington, Kentucky and Ashley Ellis of Columbus, Ohio; nephews, Marcus Johnson, Dallas, Texas, Shawn Simpson of Columbus, Ohio, Floyd Ellis Jr., and Dominique Ellis, both of South Bend. She was preceded in death by her father, James Edward Ellis and a sister, Lela McKnight. Services for Ms. McKnight will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, January 1, 2010, at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, South Bend. Arrangements have been entrusted to Alford's Mortuary where messages of condolence may be e-mailed to alfordsmortuary@comcast.net, c/o The McKnight Family.