Rev. Jack H. Elliott

Rev. John (Jack) Hackett Elliott 87, of Paris, TX passed away Monday September 11, 2023. Services are scheduled for 2:00 pm Friday, September 15 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, the Mt. Olive Community, TX with Pastor Tim Reger officiating. The burial will follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery. The family will receive visitors one hour before the service. Bright-Holland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jack, the eldest son of John and Elizabeth Elliott was born May 17, 1936 in Lake Village, Arkansas. He spent his childhood across different states, cities, and schools as his father was a Colonel in the U.S. Army. They settled in East Texas where Jack attended Henderson High School graduating in 1954. He went on to East Texas Baptist University graduating in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts before finishing his formal education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary graduating with a Masters of Religious Education in 1962. He held student pastorates, youth and music director roles while in seminary where he met his wife of 61 years, Shirley Ann Lewis in Wichita Falls, TX. They wed September 1, 1962. Shortly after, Jack pastored at Fargo Baptist in Vernon, TX before relocating to Detroit, Michigan where he served in ministry for 22 years in multiple roles as mission pastor, music director, youth coordinator, as well as the Church Training Director, and Student Ministries Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan for 17 of those years. He felt the call to pastor again and was led to Waialae Baptist Church in Honolulu, HI where he served for 5 years. Jack and family returned to Wichita Falls, Texas where served as an interim pastor before accepting a position at Mt. Olive Baptist Church until he retired in 1998. He served as a leadership volunteer to the Red River Valley Baptist Association in its support of Baptist Student Ministries at Paris Junior College and Lamar County Christian Ministers Association as their treasurer for many years. He did not slow down in retirement, working in Chaplain roles for CIMA Hospice, Christus St. Joseph, and Paris Regional Medical Center for 22 years before a sharp decline in his health.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Terry Elliott and sister-in-law Janet Elliott. He is survived by wife Shirley, their five children, John, Mary Kaye LaFontaine, Stephen (Lydia Kay), Joanna Kovacevich (Josh) all of Michigan, Elizabeth Exum (Bo) of Powderly and eleven grandchildren, Lauren, Cameron, and Quinn LaFontaine, Miranda Everett (Matthew), Claire Bowman, Avery, Addison, Ayden, and Ava Exum, Katie and Andrew Elliott. Brother Anders Elliott of Kilgore, TX, in-laws Don Lewis and Kay Lewis of Wichita Falls, TX, and Truman (Jan) Lewis of Dallas, TX, along with numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews whom he dearly loved.

Jack loved making friends of strangers, and his grandchildren were his pride and joy. He traveled between Michigan and Texas to attend as many of their activities as he could. He also enjoyed jogging, walking, golf, crossword and sudoku puzzles, watching football and was a dedicated Detroit Lions fan. Jack felt called into ministry at a young age, and dedicated his life to spreading the gospel. He thoroughly enjoyed sharing Jesus with anyone and was thoughtful in all his answers.

The family would like to thank Baylor Scott and White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital in Tyler, UT Health Tyler, UT Health Tyler Rehabilitation, Paris Regional Health, Texas Oncology, Brentwood Terrace Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, and On-Call Hospice for all the care provided.

Pallbearers will be John Elliott, Stephen Elliott, Andrew Elliott, Cameron LaFontaine, Bo Exum, Ayden Exum, and Josh Kovacevich.

In lieu of flowers, those that wish may donate in Jack’s memory to Faith Outreach Fellowship care of Stephen Elliott, 37908 Greenwich, Clinton Township, MI 48036.