Rev. Dr. Jack Terrell Ruis

On May 6, 2023, Rev. Dr. Jack Terrell Ruis passed away to heaven to be with his Lord Jesus Christ, his mother and father, Chester and Katie Ruis, his son, Mark Ruis and all the host of relatives who have gone on before. He was a resident of Fannin County, Georgia, when he died.

Born in Lowndes County, Georgia, in the town of Bemiss, he is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Ann Ruis; son, Greg Ruis; daughter in law, Amanda Ruis Ellenburg (Howard), sisters and their spouses Kay Rawlings (Tommy), Sharon Parker (Raymond), brother, Charles Ruis (Nell); grandchildren and spouses, Ben and Kari Ruis, Carrie and Lucas Hensley, Nathan and Ashley Ruis; great granddaughter, Aurora; step granddaughter, Ava; and by a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Terrell was saved at the age of twelve and called to the gospel ministry at the age of sixteen, he preached at Redland Baptist Church, Bethany Baptist, and several other churches before marrying the love of his life, Barbara Ann Spells.

Terrell graduated from Pine Grove High School in 1957, Mercer University in 1960, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1966, and earned a D.Min degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1975.

Terrell pastored churches in Tushka OK, Pearson, Omega, West Highland, (Macon), Nashville FBC, and Swainsboro FBC before being called to missions work from 1988 until 2015. He served with the Georgia Baptist Convention as a Area Missionary in middle and South Georgia from 1988 to 1999, then as a Missions Resource Consultant from 1999 to 2006, then from 2006 through 2014 as Associational Missionary for the Colquitt County Baptist Association. During his ministry, Terrell went on mission trips to Cody, WY, Geneseo and Binghampton, NY, and Baltimore, MD. He helped build and encourage churches in more than 45 international mission trips to Nicaragua, Mexico and Honduras.

It was his joy to serve some of the finest people in the world in the churches and associations he served.

Since 2015, Terrell said he wanted to “pastor” his own extended family, while also encouraging and mentoring as many pastors and church leaders as he could.

But most of all, Terrell wanted to point people toward the Lord Jesus Christ, as evidenced in his personal mission statement: “Be a man of God who points all people to Christ, beginning with family and friends, then all my life may touch.’

The memorial service will be at 11:00 am, Thursday, May 11th with visitation at 10:30 am, at FBC Blue Ridge, Georgia. Rev. Dr. Rusty Thomas will officiate at the service with Rev. Bob Richardson assisting.

A graveside service will be at New Bethel Baptist Church, Valdosta, GA, on Friday, May 12 at 2 pm with Rev. Matt Peek, officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Highland Outdoor Ministries, 3106 East 1st St., Blue Ridge, GA 30513.

Condolences may be left for the family online at www.akinscobb.com. Akins-Cobb Funerals & Cremations of Blue Ridge is in charge of the arrangement