Ellen Josephine Brown-Nicholson

Ellen Josephine (Jo Ellen) Brown Nicholson, 94, born April 9, 1931, and passed away early morning October 6, 2025.

Jo Ellen attended Ravenswood and Ripley High, and she graduated from Ripley High School in 1949. Jo Ellen attended Martz Beauty School and graduated in 1950 in Huntington WV. Shortly after, Jo Ellen’s for Beauty was opened in Ripley and became a community focal point for women’s care and elegance. After moving to Huntington, she became a successful realtor for many years. Missing her community, she moved back to Ripley where she was a member of Epworth United Methodist and Calvary United Methodist and participated in the choir. Giving back to her community, she was active in GFWC Woman's Club of Ripley, a member of Jackson County women’s club, director of the City of Ripley Beautification Committee, and a member of the Red Hat Society. In her later years, she enjoyed community volunteering, home and gardening, art and travel. She loved her friends and family around a gaming table, enjoying their company while playing mexican train, bridge, canasta and backgammon.

Jo Ellen is survived by her daughter, Teena Michelle Brown, of Gaston, SC; and sister, Debra Smith of Atlanta, GA; and grandchildren, Tyler Smith, of Chattanooga, Breeze Walters and Tara Schallom of Cincinnati; great grandchildren, Dakota and Abram Smith of Chattanooga,TN, Stephen and Alexis Sherman of Cincinnati, and Alanah, Bryce, and Aubrey Walters of Cincinnati; and many nieces and nephews; Kimberly Fowler, Marrianna McHugh, Rebecca Gibbs, and Melanie Purkey.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elwyn G. (Nick) Nicholson; father of her children, Wallace (Sonny) Brown; father and mother, James and Myrtle Miller; daughter, Kathleen Rae (Brown) Schallom; Sister, Helen Jean Bush; Brother, James Robert Miller.

A service to celebrate her life will be held November 15, 2025 – 1pm at Waybright Funeral in Ripley, WV, with visitation held from 12p.m. until the time of the service. Jo Ellen would like any memorial remembrance to be directed to ARF, Inc (Animal rights fur-ever) www.jcwvarf.org