Jefferson Awards 2024: Ellen Fuller

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) -Ellen Fuller has been described as a serial volunteer, a giver, inspiring and selfless. Even still, when she heard she’s a 2024 Jefferson Award winner, it came as a huge surprise to her.

“I’m like oh my word, oh my word!” Fuller said. “It was overwhelming and the person that nominated me is one of my heroes.”

Fuller was nominated by Brazos County Veteran Service Officer Pamela Robertson. Robertson said she was only surprised Ellen had not been nominated before.

“I think it’s long overdue actually,” Robertson said. “She’s more than deserving. She does more than anyone I know in this community, and she was one of the first people to welcome me to this position. I don’t think I’ve ever been to any veteran event that she wasn’t there, part of or in charge of.”

Fuller is constantly on the move, helping others as the co-founder of Wreaths Across America Brazos Valley, and through her leadership in organizations like the Veterans of the Brazos Valley Memorial, the City of Bryan Cemetery Advisory Board, the Woman’s Club of Brazos Valley, the Texas A&M Garden Club, and the list goes on.

“I can’t tell you how many times she has physically walked veterans into our office and explained to me what they needed, and we were able to file and get the benefits and things they needed,” Robertson said. “Her personally walking them in here and going the extra mile, that is somebody that is going above and beyond.”

Fuller credits her father for her passion for giving back to veterans and the community.

“My dad was a veteran,” Fuller said. “He actually came back from Vietnam and sadly, a lot of those that came back did not receive the welcome they should have. They were spat on and sworn at, and then saddest of all is that many of them did not come back so while we can, we want to thank them and their families.”

Fuller said moments she is most proud of include honoring veterans by placing thousands of wreaths at their graves, as well as spearheading the effort of making sure veterans can be laid to rest right here in the Brazos Valley.

“The Bryan City Cemetery, making it a local national cemetery,” Fuller said. “You don’t have to go to Houston, you don’t have to go to San Antonio.”

And now she is able to see the difference it makes firsthand.

“There’s a mother and daughter, Jaime and Nancy, that have visited every day and her daughter says that it’s helped with the grieving process for him to be able to be there so she can speak to him,” Fuller said.

She says even the smallest of actions can lead to a better community.

“If we can stop and speak to somebody, give them a hug, thank them. It’s priceless to them,” Fuller said.

All she has done and continues to do is why Ellen Fuller is a 2024 Jefferson Award winner.