Alvin Ellerby
Rev. Dr. Alvin Bennett Ellerby, 70, formerly of Chattanooga, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2020, at his residence in Mobile, Alabama.
He was born on October 19, 1949, to Samuel and Nannie Ellerby of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from Riverside High School Class of 1967. He held degrees from UCLA with a BS and a MS degree in Mechanical Engineering, a MS in Theology from Virginia Union Theological Seminary and Doctorate in Theology from Westminster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. He married Callie Ellerby and had one son. Callie preceded him in death. He married Linda Ellerby in 2004 and was also introduced to her three children. He was an ordained Baptist minister and pastor. He preached and pastored in Carolina, Delaware, Virginia, Florida, and Oregon. He moved to Portland, Oregon in 2006. In 2010 he founded, Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and Greater New Hope Family Services in Portland, Oregon. He worked as the CEO of Greater New Hope Family Services and was the founder of Solid As A Rock (a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering free goods and services to families).
He leaves to cherish, wife, Linda, children: Joshua Ellerby, Kadontreal Hutcherson (Reggie), Felecia Wright, and Augustreal Montgomery; his sister, Debra Merrill and her children; Lauren Leak Merrill (Willie), Brandon Merrill (Chatsoni) and Nicholas Merrill; his first cousin and second mother, Shirley Head Jackson and her son, Luke Jackson Jr. He has several longtime, close friends: Howard Roddy, Albert Fields, Ron Bish, Larry Hengesh, John Malone and Pastor James Favorite as well as a host of other cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Alvin will lie in state on Sunday, June 14, from 12:30-5 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home.
A family service will be on Monday, June 15, at 1 p.m. in the chapel with Pastor Robert Freeman as the eulogist. Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.