Sheila McQueen Ellison, wife of Rick Ellison, an associate in the office of Sunday School for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), died Sept. 12. She was 63.
A Tennessee native, Ellison served alongside her husband, who before coming to the SBOM in 2001 was discipleship pastor of Valleydale Baptist Church, Birmingham; associate pastor of Gardendale First Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, Winter Park, Fla.; and minister of education at First Baptist Church, Cullman, and First Baptist Church, Kingston, Tenn.
During their years in ministry, she worked with a deaf ministry, a sewing ministry, women’s ministry and Sunday School.
In 1981, Ellison was diagnosed with polycystic renal disease, and in 1993, Rick Ellison successfully donated a kidney to her in what was at that time a rare spousal kidney transplant. In March 2009, The Alabama Baptist published an article detailing her journey with the disease.
“Sheila Ellison was one of the bravest people I have ever known,” said Rick Lance, SBOM executive director. “She experienced health issues for years, and yet she bravely faced those challenges with faith in the Lord and a sense of optimism about the future. Sheila leaves a lasting legacy of love and faith.”
Sheila Ellison was a member of First Baptist Church, Montgomery, at the time of her death.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, one daughter and one grandchild. (TAB)
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