Ellie Jackson was born August 5, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee to the late Leonard James and Rosie (Jackson) White.  

Sonny, as he was so well known as, loved to work on cars. There wasn't a vehicle made that he couldn't fix. He also loved fishing, taking road trips with his brothers Percy and LJ along with the wives, and spending time with family and friends. Sunny retired from Weil McClain as a coremaker. He attended Macedonia Church.
Ellie "Sonny" Jackson departed this life on November 9, 2017 at Franciscan St. Anthony Hospital. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Flora Mae Jackson on June 14, 2015; three sisters, Ora Bruins, Inez Wilkerson and Beulah Bradley; two brothers, Harry Jackson and Tommy  T. Fisher; two step children, Loretta Flowers and Antonio Young Sr.

Sonny is survived by his children, Eli (Barbara) Jackson and Linda K. (Clifton) Burns both of Sikeston, Missouri and Robert Jackson of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; one stepdaughter, Kimberly Young of Michigan City, Indiana; four sisters, Martha Come, Rose Sanders, Truly Olden and Lois Jean McIntosh all of Chicago, Illinois; five brothers, Percy (Carolyn) Billings of Chicago, Illinois, Eddie Jackson of LaPorte, Indiana, James Henry Johnson of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Leonard  (Brenda) James of Chicago, Illinois and David Lee (Geraldine) Jackson of Michigan City, Indiana; two stepsisters, Lula (Lee) Green and Earline Smith; fourteen grandchildren; nine great grandchildren, ten step grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.