Did they know they had reached a pivotal point in history in giving birth to a great man who would touch and change so many lives?

Known as Junior and Dumas to his close family and friends, Ellis Wilkins was always recognized as a bridge building leader who would achieve great things.

As a young church musician who never needed a lesson, he noticed a pretty alto singing and ran around for a week after going door to door looking for, and finally found, Mary Louise (Madea) who became his “girlfriend” in marriage for the next 65 years and 9 months, suddenly passing away this past September.

The Rev. Dr. Ellis Wilkins will always be known as being the life of the barbershop, dinner party, family gathering, or every church service he attended.

Happy 90th birthday Rev. Dr. Ellis Wilkins!