Biography: Willard Ellis was born in Kensington, Jamaica West Indies to the parents of Margaret Newfville and William Ellis on September 9, 1944. He was the second of nine children. Willard attended Manchioneal All Age School. After completing his certification and requirements, he was fortunate to use his skills to become self-employed as a butcher and fisherman. When he was not in the market selling his meat, you could find him tending to his fishing boat and fishing net on the beach; getting ready to do some serious fish catching.

Willard moved away from his district of Kensington to live in Port Ontonio and continued his employment in the market as a butcher.  He met the mother of his kids and together they had five children. Willard always wanted a better life for himself and his family. In October 1982 he moved to the United States and settled in the borough of Manhattan with his sister Gloria.
 
Willard found employment in a bakery making bread and patties with his brother Albert Ellis in Queens, New York. A few years later, Willard met and married his late wife, Madlyn and lived in Brooklyn where they raised their three children together. Willard later found employment in vinyl record making in downtown Manhattan.
 
Willard lost his wife of over thirty years due to a long illness. He became ill as well and his eldest child Jane took him home and cared for him.

In the last years of his life, Willard was in and out of the hospital battling kidney disease. Willard fought a good fight but in the end was too weak. He passed way on October 28, 2018. He leaves behind nine children, three sisters and four brothers: Ileen Davis, Albert Ellis, Edghill Ellis, Gloria Ellis, Delroy Ellis, Elorine Scott and Archibald Wilson; fifteen grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.