Mrs. Lisa Celeste (McClellan) Ortiz, Esquire was born August 17, 1965, to Luther McClellan and the late Nancy McClellan at the Walton Army Hospital, Fort Dix, NJ.  She transitioned Friday, March 26, 2024, at the Saint Francis Hospital, Bartlett, TN, surrounded by family.

She attended and was a 1983 graduate of Pleasantville public schools.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Livingston College at Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ), was inducted in the Honors Program and received the Paul Roberson Scholar designate.  During her time there, she also became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®.  Lisa obtained her Juris Doctorate from Rutgers Law School (Newark, NJ).

Lisa relocated to Texas, where she was employed by the U.S. Department of Education's Civil Rights Division. She married and became the proud mother of her daughter Clarissa Nelson. In 2019, she opened her heart and home to Brittany and Briance Ortiz, when she married the love of her life, George Ortiz. She and George later moved to Tennessee to care for her father.

Lisa was strong, no nonsense, selfless, dependable and someone you could count on through good and bad times.  She was straight to the point and would tell you what you needed to hear, just like her mother.  Yet, she was always a great listener. If you came to her with an issue, she immediately gave you her advice, which was wise and timely.

Lisa was an avid reader, loved cats and brain games, like Scrabble and Candy Crush. She also enjoyed sharing laughs and good times with family and friends.

Lisa is predeceased by her mother, Nancy McClellan. She is survived by her husband, George Ortiz; daughters, Clarissa Nelson, Brittany Ortiz, Briance Ortiz and Shonda McNeal; grand-daughter, Nylah Slater; father, Luther McClellan; two sisters, Rev. Laverne McClellan Trent (Darrell) and Marsha Dillard (Earl); god-children, Jessica Leavy and Kirby Harden III; aunts, Mary Lou Reid and Dardanella Russell; uncles, Joseph Johnson and Gregory Rufus, and a host of cousins, friends and sorors.

FUNERAL SERVICES IN TENNESSEE WILL TAKE PLACE:

Saturday, May 11, 2024

10:00 am - Viewing

11:00 am - Service

Fullview Missionary Baptist Church

7100 Memphis Arlington Road

Bartlett, TN 38135

FUNERAL SERVICES IN NEW JERSEY WILL TAKE PLACE:

Saturday, May 18, 2024

09:00 am - Ivy Beyond the Wall Service

10:00 am - Viewing

11:00 am - Service

Mount Zion Baptist Church

535 South New Rd.

Pleasantville, NJ 08232

Flowers can be delivered to the churches on their respective service dates

Donations can be made in her memory to the ALS association.

Jefferson Mortuary, Inc. has charge:

7788 Church Street

Millington, Tennessee 38053

(901) 872-8800 Phone

(901) 872-4722 Fax

jeffersonmortuary@yahoo.com