February 7, 1936 in Bluffton, South Carolina. After serving in the United States Air Force, he
met, courted and married the former Shirley Ann Randolph on December 18, 1960 in Brunswick, Georgia. He gave his heart to the Lord at an early age, and was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Joe Richard Ellis worked as a licensed Barber in Dallas, Texas. He also served as one of the barbers at the Lone Star Campground during annual Camp Meetings.
Also while living in Dallas, Joe served a tenure at the Gaston Episcopal Hospital where he was Orderly Housekeeping Supervisor, then promoted to Assistant Director of Housekeeping, and later became Director of Environmental Services.
Joe earned a Bachelors Degree in Religion at Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas.
Elder Ellis was hired by the Southwest Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventist in 1982 under the direction of President W.C. Jones. While serving as an ordained minister, he became affectionately known as “J.R.” among his ministerial colleagues. On numerous occasions, he transported teenage students to College Days at Oakwood College, now Oakwood University.
He was also privileged to serve on several conference committees, which included the K-12 and Executive Committees. He was featured as part of a special project entitled, “The Caring Church” at the General Conference Session in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1985. Elder Ellis also worked with Wills and Trust, and following retirement, he was asked to serve as the Wills and Trust Director.
J.R. enjoyed pastoring parishioners in several churches and districts within the Southwest Region Conference, which include Dallas-Fellowship in Texas; Alexandria-Smyrna, Fort Polk, Grambling, Monroe, Tallulah, and Natchitoches in Louisiana; Houston-Berean, Navasota, and Bryan in Texas; and last but not least, Oklahoma City-Tenth Street in Oklahoma. After serving in ministry with the Southwest Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for 27 years, J.R. retired on December 31, 2009.
J.R.’s life was full and well-lived. He began his rest on Sunday morning, January 23, 2022 peacefully at his home. He awaits the call of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Preceding him in death were his parents and 4 siblings. Those cherishing his memory are his wife of 61 years, Shirley; son, Lee Ellis (wife, June) of Hutto, TX; daughter, Crystal Wilborn of Duncanville, TX; daughter, Pamela Johnson of Mesquite, TX; daughter, Twila Calhoun (husband, Nathan) of Edmond, OK; daughter, Leah Richardson (husband, Robert) of Kingwood, TX; and daughter, Tamara Williams (husband, David) of Houston, TX. Additional family members include brother, Lee Roy Ellis of Savannah, GA; niece, Marilyn Lang ‘aka “Raindrop” ‘(husband, Ronald), grand children, great-grand children, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and a host of friends who will truly miss him.
A memorial service for Joe will be held Sunday, February 6, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Voice of Hope SDA Church, 3300 NE 23rd St, Oklahoma city, OK 73121. A graveside service will occur Monday, February 7, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Memorial Park Cemetery, 13313 North Kelley, Oklahoma City, OK 73131.
The Ellis family would like to thank everyone for the many comforting messages, prayers, as well as so many other expressions of concern during this time. To those of you who have rendered your time, talent, or resources, we extend our heartfelt appreciation. We are sincerely grateful for those of you who have traveled great distances to express your love and desire to comfort. Mere words cannot express our gratitude for your kindness and thoughtfulness. A special thanks goes out to Elder Durandel Ford, Grief Ministries Director for the Southwest Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, for what he has done for the family. And we would truly be remiss not to convey our appreciation to Elara Caring for all of their kindness, attentiveness and care.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemorialParkOKC.com for the Ellis family.
