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 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. Elder Sherrard considered his time in LaMarque as years of gaining pastoral experience. He had served there 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 installed as pastor in 1984. He shared with the congregation that he was led to change the name of St. Paul Temple to its present name of Ellis Memorial Church of God in Christ.

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.

Elder Sherrard was well regarded by his peers and was often called upon for counsel. When asked for advice on any subject, he would always give an answer which led to scripture, chapter and verse. He always held that the bible was the guide for holy living, which he also called practical living. He never wavered from that belief. On May 23, 2002 Elder Sherrard officially retired as Pastor of Ellis Memorial due to his health, and the title of Pastor Emeritus was bestowed on him by the late Bishop N. H. Henderson, Presiding Bishop of Texas South Central Jurisdiction of the Churches of God in Christ. The Lord called Elder Sherrard home on June 23, 2006.