MEMORIAL RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE OF BISHOP WILLIAM A. ELLIS
WHEREAS, The Honorable Bishop William A. Ellis, D.D., accomplished preacher, talented musician, and loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, took his earthy leave on Saturday, November 14, 2020; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of Bishop Ellis's passing by the Honorable Carrie M. Austin, Alderman ofthe 34th Ward; and
WHEREAS, William was born on September 18, 1942, in Chicago, and was the last of thirteen children born to the late Elder Charles and Lucille Ellis; and
WHEREAS, During his formative years, "Little Willie" was educated in the Chicago Public Schools and experienced "the new birth" on January 8, 1950, at the age of seven under the pastorate of his father, Elder Charles Ellis; and
WHEREAS, After his father's unexpected death in 1953, William stayed home to care for his mother until her passing; while supported by all his siblings, he especially cherished the spiritual guidance of his beloved brother, confidant, and best friend, Bishop David L. Ellis, the late pastor of Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, Michigan; and
WHEREAS, In 1962, at the age of twenty, William officially accepted the call to ministry, and, in October of 1963, he received his initial ministerial license from the Illinois District Council; and
WHEREAS, On June 29, 1963, William joined together with Sister Mary Pope Wilkins of Chicago in a blissful marriage that lasted nearly 50 years; their union produced four sons and eight grandchildren, and the couple remained together until Mother Mary P. Ellis transitioned into the portals of Glory on December 10, 2012; and
WHEREAS, William was ordained at the 1968 Convention ofthe Pentecostal Assemblies ofthe World in Los Angeles, and, that same year, the Lord directed him to San Antonio, Texas to pastor the Lincoln Park Church of Christ, where he and Sister Ellis made their new home; and
WHEREAS, Under Elder William Ellis's dynamic leadersh...
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