Ellis Franklin Wright (December 25, 1946 – August 24, 2025)

Ellis was born on Christmas day, 1946 to Henry and Jessie Wright of McCrory, AR. The family lived on and farmed an 80 acre farm in rural Arkansas during Ellis' growing up years. While attending a revival at Good Hope Baptist Church, he prayed to receive Christ as his Savior. He attended school in McCrory, where he played basketball in high school and read every book in the school library.

Afterward, he attended Ouachita Baptist University, like many others in his family. While there, he met his wife, Linda Potter, while working in the cafeteria. She agreed to marry Ellis only after he asked her for the third time. Ellis' father performed the wedding ceremony in the family home in McCrory surrounded by family and friends on January 22, 1967.

The couple lived in Arkadelphia, Arkansas until Linda graduated and they moved to Memphis, TN, where Ellis attended Memphis State University (now University of Memphis). His various jobs during college included working in a sheet metal factory, repossessing cars, working at a financial company, and the Internal Revenue Service as a tax auditor. Ellis graduated in 1978 with his BA in accounting and continued working for the IRS as a revenue agent. After passing the CPA exam on the first try, he worked at a CPA firm in Newport, Arkansas for two years.

In 1983, Ellis felt God leading him to become a better Bible teacher, so the couple moved to Mesquite, TX, for Ellis to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. In July of 1985, they welcomed their long-awaited baby girl, Hannah Beth. During his DTS years, he worked as an accountant and preached in various churches he attended. He continued attending DTS part time until 1991. In 1995, he and a friend started Grace Community Church of Garland, a small house church, which continued until 2003. He worked as bookkeeper and accountant for many years in the Dallas area, helping companies with business planning and day-to-day bookkeeping.

For a little over a year prior to his death, he battled stomach cancer. On August 24, 2025, he took his final breaths in his home with his loving wife and daughter by his side.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Jessie Wright, brothers Winifred and Norman, sisters Gerry and Ernie and his eight unborn children.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Linda, daughter Hannah Beth Reid (Christopher), grandchildren Esther, James, Samuel, Caleb, Joshua and Gideon Reid, sister Evie Wright, brother Kenny Wright, nephew John Stawasz (Cathy), 13 nieces and nephews around the country, along with many loving friends and a caring church family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to Thrive Women's Clinic, where Ellis volunteered counseling men for many years. https://thrivewomensclinic.givevirtuous.org/donate/thrive-wc-donations