Ross Mitchell Black

Services for Ross Mitchell Black, 68, of Pollok, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 22, 2015 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel, with Stephen DuBose and Clay DuBose officiating. Interment will follow in Gann Cemetery.

Ross was born November 20, 1946 in Angelina County, Texas to the late Reverend Loranza Black and Versie (Havard) Black. He passed away on Sunday, July 19, 2015 at his residence.

Ross was a Baptist minister and pastored churches throughout East Texas. He recently retired from Redtown Missionary Baptist in Pollok after eight years. He joined the United States Navy and visited 11 countries on his Mediterranean tour, after graduating from Lufkin High School in 1965. He also served as Chaplain and board member of the Central Volunteer Fire Department.

He was also an artist. Using toothpicks, found objects and glue, Ross created miniature replicas of old East Texas buildings. These remarkable sculptures were featured in articles and in a solo exhibit at the Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin. He also loved to create objects and furniture from weathered barn wood and to “work” in the family fireworks business entertaining customers.

Ross is survived by his wife of 37 ½ years, Brenda (Jinkins) Black; his daughters, Angela Black and Laci Roden; his sons, Jason Burgin and wife Ncole, Kevin Black and wife Jessica, Rodney Black and wife Savannah, all residing in the Central community; his sisters, Jean Wooten and Lorraine Dubose and her husband Ervin, all of Diboll; his brother, Joe Black and wife Charlene of Lufkin; sister-in-law, Patsy (Jinkins) Bailey and husband Pat of Austin; sisters-in-law, Linda Black Padgett and Linda Lane Seago, all of Lufkin. He was a very proud Poppa to 11 grandchildren. He is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and special friends, Norma Moore, Gene Shoemaker, James Bickley, Danny Anders and the coffee club gang at the Polk’s Store on Hwy. 69 N. at Central.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, John Black; his first wife of 9 years, Jackie (Harrell) Black; also his brothers-in-law, Jesse Jinkins, Jr. of Nacogdoches, Dwain Lane of Lufkin and J. D. Wooten of Alto; and great friend and neighbor, Kim Chandler.

Pallbearers will be Justin Russell, Steven Nerren, Ronnie Durham, Tim Mattews, Dan DuBose and Mark DuBose.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a charitable donation to Redtown Missionary Baptist, P. O. Box 268, Pollok, TX 75969.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday

evening at Gipson Funeral Home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.