Ellerbee Family History & Genealogy

Richard Ellerbee was born to William Ellerbee Sr. (born 1916) and Catherine Bercenia Harris (1928-1983), and he had eight siblings - two brothers, including Douglas Ellerbee (1952 - 1992) and six sisters. His life was full of abuse and anger beginning with a rough early family life as a child. It is said that he abused his younger sister, Karen, and that their father died of a heart attack while serving in the military. As an adult, Richard was in numerous abusive relationships and even threatened his ex-wife with a gun. He had several problems with authority. See Police Report - Monday August 4th 1997 and Police Report - Saturday March 29th 1997. Later, he married a single mother named Vernetta Cockerham. During Richard & Vernetta's 12 year relationship, he often abused and raped his wife. The violence was not just restricted to the couple. After 12 years, Vernetta and her husband were estranged, Vernetta having gotten a protective order against Richard. She worked with the local police and reported his multiple violations of the restraining order. A few days before Thanksgiving in 2002, he broke into Vernetta's home and murdered his 17 year old step-daughter, Candace Cockerham, who was a senior at Starmount High School, and then attempted to murder his wife, stabbing her multiple times. A long scar runs down Vernetta's neck to this day. Shortly after the crime, investigators found a burning body next to a plastic gasoline can. About 5 miles away from the body was Richard's 1996 Chevy Blazer. Later identified by dental records as the body of Richard Ellerbee, police count his death as an apparent suicide. See Police Report - Saturday March 29th 1997 for more details. On April 8th, 2018, the tv show Evil Lives Here aired an episode 'The Monster Inside Him" in which his sister Karen and ex-wife Vernetta were interviewed about their experiences with Richard. See I've found your grave - interview of Vernetta Cockerham, 40, Jonesville, North Carolina to read an interview with Vernetta about how she and Richard met, the progression of their relationship, and what she has done to keep Candace's memory alive. Two years after the attack, Vernetta filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jonesville and two police officers. About five years later, on Tuesday June 30th 2009 a settlement was reached, just a day after the case was about to go to trial. Vernetta was awarded a sum of $430,000 for the failure of enforcing the restraining order. Vernetta was quoted as saying "I was never there to beat up the town financially or get millions and millions of dollars. I began this case—I think we put in for $10,000 at first—because I wanted to try to start a shelter for battered women. It took a long time, but this was well worth the wait for the people that it's going to help. The strengthening of domestic violence laws is happening right now, and I love being involved. I'm hoping to be able to implement services and changes in Yadkin county; that's what the settlement means to me."

Edward L Ellerbee Jr of Jefferson County, TX was born circa 1958. He married Lisa A. (Alvarez) Ellerbee on April 26, 1980 in Jefferson County, TX and they later separated on February 23, 1996. He married Lisa A. (Alvarez) Ellerbee on April 3, 1997 in Jefferson County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Edward L. Ellerbee Jr.

Hugh D Ellerbee of Thomaston, Upson County, GA was born on January 23, 1916, and died at age 87 years old on May 16, 2003.

Denson L Ellerbee Jr of Houston, Harris County, TX was born on February 25, 1937, and died at age 66 years old on June 8, 2003.

William T Ellerbee of Thomaston, Upson County, GA was born on September 6, 1922, and died at age 71 years old on September 10, 1993.

William M Ellerbee of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH was born on August 23, 1918, and died at age 76 years old on June 9, 1995.

Curtis F Ellerbee of Odessa, Hillsborough County, Florida was born on December 20, 1920, and died at age 65 years old in December 1985.

Calvin R Ellerbee of Florida was born on August 28, 1897, and died at age 89 years old in October 1986.

James V Sr Ellerbee of Molena, Pike County, Georgia was born on November 3, 1919, and died at age 63 years old in August 1983.

James M Ellerbee of Manchester, Meriwether County, GA was born on March 18, 1927, and died at age 77 years old on June 26, 2004.

James E Ellerbee of Powder Springs, Cobb County, GA was born on April 10, 1924, and died at age 84 years old on December 13, 2008.

Gerald B Ellerbee of Marietta, Cobb County, GA was born on September 10, 1919, and died at age 82 years old on November 1, 2001.

Iona Kathrine Ellerbee of Houston, Harris County, Texas was born on March 27, 1927, and died at age 80 years old on November 30, 2007.

Robert E Ellerbee of Brunswick, Cumberland County, ME was born on May 31, 1925, and died at age 70 years old on September 12, 1995. Robert Ellerbee was buried at Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery Section P Row 44 Site 17 Box 916a - Old Belgrade Road, in Augusta.

Archie M Ellerbee of Brooksville, Hernando County, FL was born on July 15, 1926, and died at age 81 years old on July 19, 2007. Archie Ellerbee was buried at Florida National Cemetery Section 327 Site 1774 6502 Sw. 102nd Ave., in Bushnell.

Archie Marco Ellerbee Jr of FL was born on February 2, 1950, and died at age 58 years old on October 2, 2008. Archie Ellerbee was buried at Florida National Cemetery Section 2A Row 10D Site 19 6502 Sw. 102nd Ave., in Bushnell.

Rames Leslie Ellerbee was born on May 20, 1941, and died at age 43 years old on March 1, 1985. Rames Ellerbee was buried at Ft. Richardson National Cemetery Section G Site 1674 P. O. Box 5-498 - Building 58-512, Davis Highway, in Fort Richardson, Ak. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Rames Leslie Ellerbee.

Thomas Alfred Ellerbee of Sonoma, Sonoma County, CA was born on May 2, 1916, and died at age 80 years old on June 19, 1996. Thomas Ellerbee was buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery Section R Site 239 1300 Sneath Lane, in San Bruno.

Ellis Ellerbee of Jamaica, Queens County, NY was born on February 9, 1924, and died at age 70 years old on July 28, 1994. Ellis Ellerbee was buried at Calverton National Cemetery Section 28A Site 1540 210 Princeton Boulevard - Rt 25, in Calverton.

Lisa A Ellerbee of TX was born circa 1962. Lisa Ellerbee was married to Edward L. Ellerbee Jr on April 3, 1997 in Jefferson County, TX. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Lisa A. (Alvarez) Ellerbee.