Berl David Elliott (1931-2011)

Berl David Elliott was born on September __, 1931, in Roby, Texas to Berlin France Elliott and Opal Irene Cannon.

When he was ___, the family moved to Alice, Texas, where he attended high school.

After high school, he decided to enter the ministry, enrolling at the University of Corpus Cristi in 195_. While there, he met and started dating Betty Ruth Nelson, a fellow student, who was studying music.

He and Betty married in 195_ at ____, Texas.

Following graduation from UCC, he enrolled at the Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity in ___.

While in school in Fort Worth, his son David Wayne was born.

When David was a newborn, he worked for a short period of time (2-3 months) at Convair as a safety monitor, checking for contamination from the radioactive materials they were using in some of their aircraft.

After graduation, he pastored at _____, Texas. The family eventually moved to Conroe, Texas, when David was about 6, where he pastored at _____ Baptist of Conroe for ___ years.

In this time, his son Warren Lee and daughter Jeanene were born.

After he left the church at Conroe, they moved to Van Vleck, Texas, where they would stay for ___ years, until 1968. He celebrated 10 years at Hull in 1978.

He eventually left Van Vleck, and they moved to Hull, Texas, pastoring at the First Baptist Church of Hull, where he would stay until 1981 (?).

Once he left the church in Hull, they would move to Highlands, Texas, where he was the minister at Second Baptist Church of Highlands. He would be there for a number of year, until his retirement in ____.

After retirement, he would guest pastor at churches in the Houston area for a number of years.

Other Employment

In addition to his full time job of being a minister, he would also perform several side jobs on a regular basis:

School bus driver

He drove a bus on school trips during his time as a student at UCC, as well for the Van Vleck school district, and after retiring from Second Baptist in Highlands.

Cattle Herding

He was an avid horseback rider, probably one of the last "Cowboy Preachers". He usually had a horse, and would often perform cattle herding for ranchers in the areas they lived in, including Van Vleck. During his time in Hull he would herd cattle during roundup season for Bill Daniels, a lawyer, politician, actor, and rancher that was a friend of his.

Places Lived

Highlands, Texas

• 104 Faith Street
• 1205 Battlebell