Ellis Memorial C.O.G.I.C. "The Haven of Hope"

Elder Frank James Sherrard, Sr.

Elder Frank J. Sherrard, Sr. was born on February 14, 1925 in Houston, Texas to Frankie and Fletcher J. Sherrard,
Sr. He attended public schools in Houston and joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 at the age of 17, where he served for
over three years before being honorably discharged in 1945. He married Edna Bell Phillips in 1946 and they
reared six children, a number of nieces and nephews, and nurtured a large extended family.

Elder Sherrard was reared in Buck Street Church of God in Christ. He dedicated his life to Christ in 1955 and
joined in fellowship with St. Paul Temple Church of God in Christ, where the late Elder John Paul Ellis was the
pastor. Elder Sherrard worked diligently in various departments in his local church, district and state jurisdiction.
As a deacon, he often carried on many duties during services at St. Paul Temple, some of which were Sunday
School Superintendent, teacher, usher, disciplinarian, driver, and janitor. He received and accepted his call to the
ministry in 1966 and continued to serve at St. Paul Temple COGIC until 1972 when the late Bishop C. H. Nelson
appointed him pastor of Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ in LaMarque, Texas.

He had served as pastor for 10 years when Elder Ellis who was in ill health, called for him to return to Houston to
assume the pastorate at St. Paul Temple. Shortly thereafter, Elder Ellis passed away and Elder Sherrard was led to
change the name of St. Paul Temple to its present name of Ellis Memorial Church of God in Christ.

Elder Sherrard considered his time in LaMarque as years of gaining pastoral experience. He was only the second
Pastor of Ellis Memorial since its beginning in 1948. His mother, Missionary Frankie Sherrard, was one of the
founding members. Under his leadership, the church had many accomplishments such as purchasing of
additional property, paving the parking lots, refurbishing the sanctuary and constructing a new fellowship hall,
new instruments and choir robes, church vans, all on a cash basis. It was his desire that the church be debt-free.
But most of all, Ellis Memorial was blessed spiritually and materially under his teaching and leadership.
On May 23, 2002 Elder Sherrard officially retired as Pastor and was given the title of Pastor Emeritus by Bishop N.
H. Henderson, Presiding Bishop of Texas South Central Jurisdiction of the Churches of God in Christ.

The Lord called him home on June 23, 2006.

YOU CAN FIND A SAFE PLACE WITH US !!!

"The Haven of Hope"

Ellis Memorial C.O.G.I.C.