Black History Month Spotlight: Joseph A. Ellis, Sr.

Once again this year, the Surry County Historical Society celebrates Black History Month by recognizing the input of our own Surry County residents, both past and present. First, let’s look back at Coach Joe Ellis’ story!  

Joseph A. Ellis, Sr. was born to his parents Joseph and Herma Lee on May 15, 1953, the oldest of what was to become a family of 11 children. He grew up in Surry County, Virginia, graduating from Luther Porter Jackson High School. He also graduated from VA State University with BS and MS degrees. Joe was a teacher in the Surry County School System, teaching physical education and health for 23 years. In addition, he coached many sports, including football, tennis, softball and track, and volunteered with Special Olympics.  However, he is best known as the coach of the 2005 Boys Basketball Group A State Champions, the Surry County Cougars!  His story was followed by so many media outlets that most everyone in Virginia surely must have known the name of Coach Ellis!! 

Coach Ellis had spent many years coaching basketball before he received devastating news in 2003. Doctors diagnosed him with inoperable colon cancer. He continued coaching while doctors attempted treatments, including weekly trips towards the end to Duke University for an experimental vaccine. As mentioned, the media outlets followed his story as his Cougars worked their way towards a State Championship, a dream Joe Ellis was hoping to see come true for his beloved Surry County!  

On March 12, 2005 that dream came true when the Cougars beat Twin Springs (Nickelsville) 57-48 at the Siegel Center in Richmond. The team gave Coach Ellis and their school the long awaited trophy as the Virginia State A Champions of Boys Basketball.  Needless to say, the Siegel Center, site of state playoffs, erupted in cheering, screaming, clapping, and many tears of happiness, even from other teams!  Coach’s comment that day is remembered by many, even 17 years later, "The body is weak right now. But, inside, I'm just bubbling with joy!" 

Days of celebrating followed the next few months! He and the team were acknowledged and hailed by Surry County and the local and area news outlets. He was invited to the Norfolk Sports Club Jamboree on March 29, and was honored on a podium that included Lefty Driesell, Terry Holland, Michael Vick, and…Joe Ellis! Amazingly, he attended that event after spending the day at Duke receiving a treatment! The win, the celebrations, and the dream coming true were the happy endings for this story, because even the massive celebrations could not bring the real, needed healing. On May 14, 2005, Coach Ellis came back home for the last time, proudly wearing the new Surry State Champions jackets that had just arrived! A large number of family and friends were there to meet him and help his wife Doris and the family.  Sadly, he passed away that evening around 10 p.m.  

To say he is still missed today is an understatement! His students can tell you many of his “famous” sayings at ball practice such as his routine of starting practice by shooting around and when it was time to start he would say, “Ballssss on the rack!” One of the players even made up a song about it, right Brenton?!! Brenton confessed to creating many songs, some with names we won’t repeat here, that would help motivate and help “HYPE UP” Coach Ellis’ teams back in the 1990s!  Another player remembered that he didn’t always say as much, but was more of a glarer! That look told you all you needed to know and do… or what you hadn’t done!  Everyone has a Joe Ellis story, and they tell it with love and humor, and his story lives on at the school, in his players, and in his large family who supported him throughout his career!  

Coach Ellis, Joseph Alphonso Ellis, Sr. was survived (in 2005), by his wife, Doris, and their children Kimberly, Keisha, and Joseph, Jr, three grandchildren who called him “Big Daddy, “, his father, five sisters and five brothers, many other family members, and a huge TEAM of supporters!  

Sources =-Daily Press, May 16, 2005; REMEMBERING COACH JOE ELLIS By DARRYL SLATER DailyPress.com •May 16, 2005 at 12:00 a.m.