Overview:
• Pastor Eugene Ellington, a community leader and businessman, passed away leaving behind a legacy of service and empowerment in Cincinnati.
• His work with minority businesses and community development initiatives will be remembered.
Contributed by
the Ellington Family
Pastor Ellington was born in Birmingham, Alabama on October 26, 1952. He was the second eldest of four children, born to the late Deacon James and Levonia Ellington.
He accepted Christ at an early age at Southern Baptist Church on Richmond and Cutter. Gene attended Cincinnati Public schools. During his school days, his passion was playing the saxophone.
From 1970 to 1973, Pastor Ellington served in the United States Army. There he was an aircraft crew chief responsible for maintaining a fleet of airplanes for the Military District of Washington.
Pastor Ellington holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Public Administration from Xavier University.
Prior to starting his own company, Pastor Ellington worked for many years in various not-for-profit organizations. Most of his career has centered on helping the less fortunate. Most notably, Pastor Ellington served as President of the Walnut Hills Evanston Medical Center for 20 years.
As President of Ellington Management Services Inc., Pastor Ellington is actively involved in increasing opportunities for minority businesses to participate in economic growth. He also serves as President of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Collective Empowerment Group (CEG). The CEG has more than 22 Member Churches and 45 Strategic Business Partners. This cooperation between the church and business is known as marketplace ministry which is “The directing of evangelism and other Christian activities toward the secular marketplace.”
Pastor Ellington also provides his business expertise to assist with the challenges facing the African American community by serving as CEO of the CEAI – Community Economic Advancement Initiative – which is managing the development of affordable housing, providing jobs and job training for community members. Pastor Ellington was also instrumental in the development of the Bond Hill Market, a community grocery for the residents of the Bond Hill Community.
He also is a former Board Member of the African American Chamber of Commerce and Treasurer of the Cincinnati Business Incubator.
Pastor Ellington received the Applause Magazine 2003 Entrepreneurial ship Image-maker Award and was named one of the “Most Influential” in the 2005 and 2006 editions of Who’s Who in Black Cincinnati.
On June 10, 2005, Consolation Baptist Church extended a call to its fifth pastor, Pastor Eugene Ellington. Pastor Ellington preached his first sermon as Pastor of Consolation Baptist Church on July 3, 2006.
Pastor Ellington and his late wife Claudia began to serve the members of this church as the Lord lead them.
Over the past 19 years, over 95 new members have been added to the kingdom. More than 35 members reunited with Consolation Baptist Church to bring its active membership to 160 people. Under Pastor Ellington’s leadership, many new ministries have begun.
He leaves to cherish his memory: Sister Linda Ellington, brother Michael Ellington (Letitia), two adult sons, Courtney (Meredith), Christopher (Zaafirah), two adult daughters, Sherrie (Darryn) and Maria. Uncle Daddy (Johnny Ellington). The joy of his life, eight grandchildren – Kennedy, Sydney, Mya, Claudia, Asante’, Mason, Empryss and Logan. A very special friend Crystal Guyton-Grace and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and bonus family the Bristols.
Pastor Ellington said he simply wants to be known as a man of God who loves God’s People.