Ellen Patricia Sykes, daughter of Richard Allen Sykes and Anne Delores scott both deceased was born on April 19th 1950 in Anne Arundel County, Marland. she departed life suddenly on May 11th 2009. Ellen Sykes was the eldest of the Sykes children and the "rock" of the Sykes family. She was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System and earned her G.E.D. Ellen had friends young and old throughout the city of Baltimore. She grew up West Baltimore before moving to Cherry Hill in the early seventies. She would raise her family there. She worked many jobs including USS Agri-Chemicals and served honorably as a correction officer with the Maryland State Dept. of Corrections. However, the job she enjoyed most was homemaker, mother, and grandmother. she was the family's favorite chef and perennial hostess of family affairs, celebrations and gatherings. Ellen, also affectionately known as "Auntie", was deeply commited to her family and gladly sacrificed many of her own personal aspirations by taking on the role of family matriarch after the passing of her own mother. Taking up where her mother left off, Ellen reared all five of her siblings-three younger brothers Gregory, Michael and Glenn and two sisters Stephanie and Reness. She raised her brothers and sisters in the community of Cherry Hill. She loved Cherry Hill and had strong relationships with countless families there. Ellen made her mark on the world through the many lives she touched, the numerous extended family members that she gave wise cousel to, and the endless number of friends that she comfronted. Ellen was extremely proud of her family, especially her children Kirk, Shawntez, and Nicole. Mother, Sister, Confidant, Advisor & Friend; whatever you needed Ellen was typically the first person called in a time of crisis. Ellen was a comforting advice giver. You could always count on her "keeping it real" even when it wasn't popular. she loved her music, good mystery novels. spending time time with friends, and dancing. Her intelligence, her mother wit, her ability to make you laugh and unconditional love & support will be the topic of many future family and community conversations for all those that she touched. If a tree is judged by the fruit that it bears, her tree was most bountiful. Even in tough times she was our Mommy, our Auntie, our Ellen, our Angel. Ellen leaves to cherish their momories; her son Kirk, her daughters Shawntez and Nicole; daughter-in-law Nonet; sons-in-law Kurt and Kevin; three brothers Gregory, Michael, and Glenn; four sisters Stephanie, Renee, Cynthia & Debby; eight grandchildren Jasmine, Kevin, Rodney, Malik, Karon, Kaniyah, Nia and Kai; nine nieces Darnetta, Anika, Kenya, Melody, Myesha, Sdharon, Delese, Iesha and Danielle; five nephews Dominic, Keenan, Corey, Gregory, and Elijah; aunts, uncles and a multitude of other relatives and dear friends.