First Lady Gwendolyn Brown Ellerbe Order of Service Presiding-Pastor Winston Hymn of Comfort…………………………………………………………………………......……Commonwealth District Choir Invocation-Pastor Richard Tucker The Old Testament Scripture-Psalm 91:1-11 (First Lady Ellerbe’s favorite morning devotional scripture) Pastor Stephen Townes The Old Testament Scripture-Isaiah 65:20-24……………………………………………………..........Pastor Ella Garland The Epistle-2Timothy 4:6-8………………………………………………………………………........…Minister Marvin Bridges Choral Response……………………………………………………………………………………………..........…….”Oh Sweet Wonder & Yes Lord” The Statement of Faith…………………………………………………………………………….....…….Elder Tyrone Hackett The Prayer of Comfort…………………………………………………………………………………......Pastor William Lynch The Hymn of Praise……………………………………………………………………….....The Commonwealth District Choir Tributes of Love From the Family………………………………………………………………...………..Mr. Fredrick Brown Special Musical Tribute………………………………………………………………………………….....…….Bethel Ensemble Tributes of Love From the Commonwealth District………………………………………...........….Mother Marie Lynch First Lady Eloise Lynch First Lady Dollnita Winston First Lady Terraine Miles District Missionary Brenda Hackett Missionary Elizabeth Bridges Special Musical Tribute……………………………………………………………………………......…………Mr. Terrell Myers Resolutions……………………………………………………………………………………………..........…Pastor Lorenzo Reed Acknowledgement of Cards and Reading of the Obituary………………………..………..............…Mother Yvonne Fox Sermonic Selection…………………………………………………………………..…………….......…….Pastor Martin Ellerbe Eulogy………………………………………………………………………………………….........……..Pastor Larry C. Miles, Sr. Pastor and Founder, Fresh Anointing Cathedral COGIC Superintendent of the Commonwealth District COGIC 2nd Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Virginia
Obituary First Lady Gwendolyn Ellerbe was born January 14, 1955, in Raeford, North Carolina to Jeff Smith and Hattie Brown. First Lady Ellerbe lived near Wilmington, North Carolina in the town of East Arcadia. Gwen, who was called Skeet, attended East Arcadia Elementary School and moved to Richmond, Virginia at age 11 where she continued her education and acquired a GED. Gwen Ellerbe grew up in a household where her grandfather (Papa) started and ended every day with prayer. At the age of 14, Gwen’s mother moved back to North Carolina leaving her in the wonderful hands of Ella Garland, who is now a pastor. Gwen was the head manager at Lucky’s Convenient Store at Kool Lane and Mechanicsville Turnpike for approximately 20 years where her love for the people gave her an abundance of favor in the lives of many. First Lady Ellerbe also worked at the Call Federal Credit Union as a Teller until her early retirement which was for medical reasons. However, she did not stop there and she worked in the church in finances for the duration of her life at Fresh Anointing and Healing Virtue Ministries. She loved people and her leadership skills made her valuable in ministry and gave her special relationships everywhere she went. Having grown up on a farm in North Carolina she loved pets, especially dogs. She also loved to travel and visit family in Philadelphia and Wilmington, North Carolina. Her laughter and charm will be greatly missed by those who knew her and because she chose to make Jesus the Lord of her life we will see her again. At the age of 14, Gwen’s mother moved back to North Carolina leaving her in the wonderful hands of Ella Garland, who is now a pastor. Gwen was the head manager at Lucky’s Convenient Store at Kool Lane and Mechanicsville Turnpike for approximately 20 years where her love for the people gave her an abundance of favor in the lives of many. She grew up in a household where her grandfather (Papa) started and ended every day with prayer. First Lady Ellerbe joined Word for Living/Fresh Anointing Cathedral on Palm Sunday in 1991 and became a faithful and hardworking member of the church where some affectionately called her, “Queen Bee”, “Boo Boo”, and “Peaches”. All of these names of affection came close to describing the genuine, kind hearted person that Gwen was. From the first day Gwen joined Word for Living/Fresh Anointing Cathedral, she was faithful to God and His people while serving as a member of the choir, President of Shepard Staff, a member of the Board of Trustees, and a member of the Finance Team. Gwen exemplified the true meaning of Revelation 2:10-“Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life”. Her faithfulness to the Lord’s church and His people extended beyond the first family of the church to every person in and out of the church. For many years, Gwen and Martin Ellerbe opened their home to college students to provide love, food, and shelter. Not only was this done for college students but for anyone who needed their assistance. The kind heartedness of Gwen and Martin was far beyond the norm. A second thought was never given when time presented an opportunity for them to show love and kindness to anyone. So many times Gwen put herself on the back burner so that the needs of others could be met. Faithful was First Lady Gwendolyn Ellerbe as she truly exemplified the scripture, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it”-Proverbs 3:27. Sickness never stopped her, fatigue couldn’t defeat her, and rejection could not conquer her. When Gwen made a commitment to work in the church and/or for the Lord, her faithfulness was unconditional. She was faithful to her husband, her children, to Healing Virtue Ministries, and to the world at large. In 1990, Gwendolyn was united in holy matrimony to Martin Ellerbe, Pastor and Founder of Healing Virtue Ministries and enjoyed a blended family of 2 children, Priscilla Mayo and Martin Southerland. These two were a match made in heaven with unconditional love for everyone that came in contact with them. Gwen was preceded in death by her mother, Hattie Brown and her father, Jeff Smith. Gwendolyn Ellerbe leaves to mourn her death but always to cherish her memory her faithful husband, Pastor Martin Ellerbe; one daughter, Priscilla Mayo; one son, Martin Southerland; three grandchildren-LaQuita Hunt, Jaekwon Mayo, and Jada Mayo; two great grandchildren, Antonio and Lanyia Smith; one sister, Rudy Glover (William); one brother, Zethe Brown; a devoted Godmother, Ella Garland and devoted Godfather, Wayman Garland, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other loving relatives.
Life beyond I feel the warmth upon my face as I enter the land of God’s good grace, Friends and loved ones gone before, waiting here beyond the door. With open arms they welcome me, amazement in my eyes they see. They look so well and at their best, beauty beholds them now they rest. I walk across the grass so green, the greenest grass I’ve ever seen, I jump and skip and bounce on air, it’s almost like there’s nothing there. A sky of blue, not a cloud in sight, perpetual day no darkest night. Every flower is in full bloom, undefined colours of every hue. The streams and rivers crystal clear, no rubbish or decay found here. The sea is calm and turquoise blue, I long to test it, wouldn’t you? The softest sand beneath my feet, at the water’s edge where they both meet. The warmest waters gently flow, bathing me from head to toe. A city built of alabaster walls, where translucent light eliminates the halls. Theatres of music and concerts too, magnificent galleries for all to view. Amazing sights for me to see, I just wander in, there’s no entrance fee. Libraries stacked with books galore, history, science and many more. The celestial sun does forever shine, it’s a perfect temperature all the time. Orchards here overflow with fruit, a taste in itself that is quite exquisite. I’m told it will help my soul to restore, pick what I like, there is plenty more. This ethereal plain is a pure delight, it’s my new home, my God given right. There is nothing here to cause me fear, the Lord protects within his sphere. An infinity of perfect peace, from the toils of earth I am now released. I have landed on a higher realm, in perfect harmony to forever dwell. So believe when I tell you my dear friends, you cannot die, life never ends.
Acknowledgements On behalf of our family, we thank you for your many expressions of love, prayers, flowers, calls, visits, meals and all that you have done to console us. We have found our greatest comfort in the loving network of support extended by all who have cared so much. Flower Girls-Missionaries and Aspirants of the Commonwealth District Pall BearersInterment at Oakwood Cemetery Richmond, Virginia *Repast in the Lucille B. Miles Administration Building immediately following her interment.