William Wayne Ellis, 64, of Tifton died Saturday, May 5, 2007, at Tift Health Care. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church. Dr. W. Ches Smith, III, Dr. Wayne Roe and Rev. Paul Thomas will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 7, 2007, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Ellis was born on October 12, 1942 in Tift County and was the son of Joshua M. Ellis and Carrie S. Ellis, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Joyce E. Fowler. He was a retired instructor and educator of Tift County for 30+ years, directing and training youthful minds; and the State Department of Education of Georgia; certified teacher evaluator with the State Department of Education in the Science Department; member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities; member of Kappa Phi Kappa Educational Honorary Fraternity; member, teacher and director of 6th grade Sunday School Department for many years at the First Baptist Church; member of choir at First Baptist Church; Deacon, prayer warrior captain; teacher of Adult Ralph Kickliter Sunday School Class; former Church Clerk for First Baptist Church. He was a member of the Family of God and Tifton’s First Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School for 21+ years. He served in the Extension Service Department of Tifton’s First Baptist Church, giving weekly devotions at Beverly Health Care Nursing Facility, Tift Health Care, Southern Care and other assisted living facilities.
Mr. Ellis received the Outstanding Young Educator Award through the Tifton Tift County Chapter of the Jaycees; recipient of the National Science Foundation Scholarship and grant for advanced graduate studies; served as a field representative and consultant for Florida State University and Silver-Burdett Publishing Company, a Division of General Learning Corporation to enact the Intermediate Science Curriculum Study Program within the State of Georgia (ISCS); presented the Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, for dedication to the teaching of science and encouragement of scientific research and study; received a Proclamation of Recognition for Bicentennial Pageant in 1976 by the State of Georgia and National Bicentennial Pageant Committees and Advisory Boards. He was a member of the American Association of Retired Persons; member of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia; served as a Redcoat at Tift General Hospital; member of General Board for Brother Charlie’s Mission Center and organizer of Benefit for Brother Charlie’s “An Evening of Adoration to the King”.
Mr. Ellis was a graduate of Tifton High School and did his undergraduate studies at Abraham Baldwin College and Georgia Southern University. His graduate studies were done at the University of Georgia, Florida State University and Valdosta State University. He was a lifetime resident of Tift County.
Mr. Ellis is survived by several cousins.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of Tifton’s First Baptist Church; the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence; the Salvation Army; International Society of Gideons; the Campus Crusade for Christ or the Rev. Billy Graham Evangelist Association.