Mr. Jessie Eugene "Preacher" Ellis, jr.

Jessie Eugene (Preacher) Ellis, Jr, the oldest son of Jessie Eugene Ellis Sr. and Sallie Doy McDonald, was born on August 29, 1933 and called to his heavenly home on Thursday, March 1, 2018.

Mr. Ellis also known to many as “Preacher”,  attended Portal High School. He was a longtime employee of the Savannah Transit Authority in the late 60’s and 70’s. He later worked for Grinnell and Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. Preacher was an avid lover of all sports and he could often be found playing a pick-up game with his children and their friends. He passed his love of sports on to his grandchildren. Mr. Ellis was blessed with the opportunity to assist the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair by cooking syrup for many years. Friends from near and far would stop by and reminisce with him as he told stories of learning the art as a young boy, often saying, “Syrup ain’t worth nothing if you have to hem it up between two biscuits. He would also say, “Overcooking the syrup and letting it get hard like candy was the only time you could kiss your girl in front of your parents and they didn’t mind”. Well known and respected, Preacher was instrumental in raising money for the churches he attended by selling chicken dinners and barbecue plates. He once raised over $1400.00 by collecting pennies alone.  He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Terry Brooks (Bubba) Rewis; two brother’s William Terry Ellis, Remer Wesley Ellis; one sister Shirley Mae Ellis; one sister-in-law, Glenis Ellis; two beautiful, loving nieces, Robbie Ellis and Stephanie Diane Hadley; one wonderfully amazing nephew, Clinton Doy Ellis, and his sister-in-law, Glennis Ellis.

Preacher is survived by four daughters; Jeannie Ellis and Lorie Ellis of Metter, Georgia , Janet (Danny) Smith of Register, Georgia; and Odette Wilson, Statesboro, Georgia; two sons, Lonnie Ellis of Register, Georgia and Johnnie (Regina Conti) Ellis of Brooklet, Georgia. Four sisters; Claudia Bell Ellis and Margaret Tankersly of Hopulikit, Georgia; Edith Marie (Mike) Waters of Statesboro, Georgia; Rosie Lee (Pete) Durham of Douglasville, Georgia and one sister-in-law, Glenda Ellis of Portal, Georgia, also survive him. Eleven grandchildren three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews all of whom loved him dearly are left to cherish his memory as well.

Visitation will be held Sunday, March 4, 2018 at Aaron Worship Center in Portal from 4 until 8 o’clock.

The funeral will be held Monday, March 5, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Aaron Worship Center.

Interment will be in Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be grandsons and great nephews.

Honorary pallbearers will be granddaughters and a great-neice.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Donna Michelle Elliot, who is part of the family, for all the love and attention she gave preacher over the years.

Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

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