A quiet passing of a great volunteer

A tribute to Ella Jack

Always a very private person, early in April Ella Jack slipped quietly away to join the Lord at the age of 92. When Ella joined the SU staff in 1942 it consisted of only Frank Millard in Cape Town, and Paul Reed in Johannesburg. Although she started in the Western Cape, Ella was given a roving mission throughout the country, with occasional visits to the then Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).

Ella’s name features on records of the huge Durban Beach Mission held each winter from 1932 to 1939 and from 1942 onwards in the historic Western Cape Girls’ Camp book. Towards the end of the 1940’s Ella settled into her permanent position in Johannesburg until her return to teaching in 1960.

Memories of Ella flood back to those of us who knew and loved her, and many of those whom she came to know at camps, missions, school visits and the Sunday afternoon old Camper’s Bible Studies. A 13-year old Jewish girl who responded to the Gospel invitation put to her by Ella wrote from Australia 40 years later, telling her later experiences leading a Sunday School and as a church elder. This supports what Mrs Rita Reed tells of Ella’s three great loves; her Lord, the whole Jack family, and children near and far, whom she ‘followed up’ faithfully.

One further example of her pioneering: Paul Makhubu, eventually one of the leaders of the African Independent Churches, tells of the miracle of conversion which he experienced at a Sunday School in Sophiatown. Ella told the story of a boy who gave loaves and fishes to the Lord, and invited children to give their hearts to Him also. Paul’s whole family life changed from that day, and he still praises God for the coming of Ella into his life.

“Well done, good and faithful servant”. We learned much from much you, Ella, and we shall never forget you.

Stan Fish