As he advises young athletes, pastor reflects on his Henrico service

Pastor Joe Ellison Jr., a graduate of Highland Springs High School, has been an influential voice in Henrico County for more than four decades.

His work in the community started at the age of 23, after he suffered a career ending neck injury playing football at Saint Paul’s College.

Ellison worked with residents of the Essex Village (now St. Luke Apartments) community across from Richmond Raceway.

“I was asked to lead a prayer vigil memory service for Dale Earnhardt and that's what's launched me into sports chaplaincy and from there I became the chaplain at the raceway,” Ellison said.

For the past five years, Ellison has spent his time as a full time chaplain at Virginia Union University, giving spiritual support to athletes, coaches and even the athletic director.

Aside from the mental and physical development of athletes at VUU, Ellison helps athletes grow spiritually as well.

“He’s a person that the kids when they don’t want to call home or talk to coaches, chaplain Ellison is right there,” Joe Taylor of VUU athletics said. “They trust him, they believe in him and he’s a big part of what we do with growth and development.”

In addition, Ellison has been offering advice to local high school students whose athletic seasons are up in the air because of the pandemic.

“My advice for the seniors in high school is to get advice from their parents, coaches and the college that is recruiting them,” Ellison said. “We don’t know how this pandemic is going to go, so my advice has been to go and start your college career.”

Whether it be students at his alma mater Highland Springs or people living at St. Luke Apartments, Ellison is happy to share his faith with them. Ellison has dedicated his life to helping the less fortunate and gets joy from “seeing people be everything God wants them to be.”

“The satisfaction I get out of it is seeing young men and women take their God-given physical abilities and use it for their betterment,” Ellison said.

Having been a part of the Henrico County community for so long, Ellison has seen the community change. Whether it be a Black woman (Alisa Gregory) being elected as sheriff or the opening of the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center a number of years ago, Ellison is amazed by it all.

“I’m proud of the future I see in East Henrico,” he said. “I thought the day would never come that I would see things like a Black police chief in Henrico [newly hired Eric English],” Ellison said. “Another thing I’m proud of is the Henrico Police Athletic League – if we had that program when I was in Essex Village, it could’ve saved a lot of lives.”