Elijah Alexander Ligon went home to be with the Lord on January 24, 2025, at the age of 18. He was born on January 17, 2007. Elijah attended Summersville Grade School, St. Mary’s Catholic School and Mount Vernon Township High School. During his junior year of high school, he was acknowledged by the College Board National Recognition Program for academic honors to high-performing students on the PSTAT/NMSQT/AP exams. He spent several summers at ID Tech Camp at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. He also loved science, computers and animals. Elijah is being buried with his beloved cat Sesame, who passed away last year.
Elijah is survived by his Mother Sonja Ligon; Grandmother Becky Harmon; Grandfather Pastor James Woodgett. Aunts and Uncles: Kevin Jones (Heather); Sherri Woodgett; Tabitha Lee (Jeffrey); Kip Woodgett; Corey Woodgett (Carolanda); Andrea Wilson; Shelby Christopher. Great Aunts and Uncles: Tyrone Woodgett; Yvette Jones; Blondell Buford (Harold); Angela Kimble (Eric); and Elaine Jefferies. As well as a host of beloved cousins and family members. He was especially close to Jacob Hosier, Haley Simmons, Justin Hosier and Lorrae Fulkerson. He was preceded in death by Grandfather Max Harmon, Grandmother Geneva Clinton and Grandparents Clinton and Essie Woodgett.
A public visitation will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Newell Funeral Home, 601 South 42nd Street, Mount Vernon, IL. A private funeral service will be held with Pastor James Woodgett officiating. A private interment will be held at Kirk Cemetery, Ina, IL. Memorials may be made in Elijah’s memory to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Mount Vernon, IL (In Memory of Elijah/Donation – CASA, 612 North 12th Street, Mount Vernon, IL) and donations will be accepted for a memorial scholarship to the Jefferson County African American Heritage Committee (JCAAHC) (In Memory of Elijah/Scholarship Donation – P.O. Box 753, Mount Vernon, IL 62864).
Call Newell Funeral Home at 618-246-0100 or visit newellfuneralhome.com for further information.