Edward Ellard

Edward Josh Ellard was born in a small town called Hesterville, Mississippi, near Kosciusko, Mississippi, on December 21, 1906. His father was Walter Jack Ellard, and his mother was Bessie Lee Rule Ellard. Walter and Bessie had six children—three boys and three girls. All were born and raised in Attala County. Josh was an influence on his siblings as most of them also received the Holy Ghost and attended meetings together. His brother, John Everett Ellard, was a member of the United Pentecostal Church in Kosciusko for many years until his death. He also worked at the campgrounds serving meals and working the concession stand. The parents of Delza Mae Sweatt, Wesley and Ella Sweatt, moved to Attala County to work at the old cotton mill. Delza was born November 7, 1909, in Seminary, Mississippi. Delza and Josh met and were married March 8, 1926, when she was 16 years old. Her mother died giving birth to her younger sister, so she took on adult responsibilities at an early age. She helped her father prepare meals, clean, wash, and take care of her three younger sisters. Later, her dad remarried and from that marriage, Delza had one half-brother and two half-sisters.

When Delza and Josh married, Josh was a farmer and drove the school bus to supplement their income. Zacky Spears (father of Doyle L. Spears) came and held revival meetings in Attala County and was allowed to use the old Burdine building, which they called the Burdine Tabernacle. As a result of those meetings, Delza began praying for the Holy Ghost. She received it on the front porch of her sister’s home (Jimmie Sweatt Therrell). Jimmie had received the Holy Ghost earlier and was having a prayer meeting at her house on the front porch in 1932. Two years later, Josh received the Holy Ghost when Earl Gamblin came through preaching the same message that Zacky Spears had preached. Josh had a hard time with Delza receiving the Holy Ghost. He told her that if she went out and got that Holy Ghost, do not come home. She told him that the Bible said let the unbeliever depart and she came home with it anyway. This all happened before Josh got the Holy Ghost. After Josh received the Holy Ghost, he accepted the call into the ministry. He and his wife started evangelizing, preaching on street corners, individual homes, and brush arbors. He began working at Doty furniture store and preaching as doors opened for him.

Both Josh and Delza were licensed ministers with the UPCI. Delza said when she went to get her license, UPC officials questioned her as to how she was going to preach with all these children. She told them that the same God that called them was the same God that called her, and He knew she had these children when He called her; they granted her license.

Josh and Delza had eight children—four boys and four girls. All have been filled with the Holy Ghost and are still in the church. Two daughters, Virginia Juaweece Ellard Marshall and Ella Ruth Ellard Marino are licensed ministers with the UPC.

Their son, Donald Wayne Ellard, was a licensed minister with the UPC. David Lee Ellard (son) formed the group called The Ellard Trio and has a ministry thru music.

Josh and Delza's first pastor was Jimmy Miller, and another pastor was Buford Miller.

Josh and Delza helped them both in the UPC church of Kosciusko. Josh pastored at Sebastopol, Ethel, McCool, and Thomastown. In 1953, Josh and Delza moved their family to Greenville. They took a small church with a small number of people and started to work for the Kingdom of God. Josh later added on with a large auditorium. Delza worked selling dinners and peanut brittle to help pay for the remodel. When they moved to Greenville, they had three sons and one daughter still at home. All they had to live in was a small 24-foot trailer with one bed and a couch. The boys had to sleep in the church with two pews pushed together for a bed. The daughter slept on the couch. Josh and Delza worked as a team, and because she was a minister also, she preached as much, and sometimes more, than Josh. Josh served as the Presbyter of Section 5 for several years. Josh and Delza lost their son (Edward Earl Ellard at the age of 26) in 1969. That same year, their other son, Donald Wayne Ellard, moved back to Greenville after attending Texas Bible College. He became the Assistant Pastor for Josh and Delza.

In 1974, Josh became the Senior Pastor and Donald Wayne was elected as Pastor. Three years later, UPC of Greenville moved to a new facility with 22,000 square feet of floor space. Josh pastored 21 years in Greenville and pastored 55 years total in his ministry. He helped many young ministers get started by opening his pulpit to them. Rev. James Lashley of Peoria, Illinois preached his first sermon at Greenville UPC after receiving the Holy Ghost there. He has had 29 ministers out of his church preaching this same message all over the nation. Some of the ministers who preached and stayed in Josh and Delza's home were G.R. Travis, Jimmy Miller, Buford Miller, J.E. Anderson, Mike Newsom, Matt Holland, Buford Sims, Earl Gamblin, Cecil Greenway, Lee Broadhead, and many more.

Greenville has not been able to replace these great people. After a very fruitful ministry of 59 years, God called Bishop Edward Josh Ellard to his eternal home on September 11, 1991. However, his legacy is yet alive through those who were influenced by him. Delza Mae Ellard left this world for a new eternal life to be with her valentine on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2004. Delza and Josh were married 65 years. Their prayers are forever and they will never die. The memories of these two great people live on all across this great nation.