Dr. Ellis M. Bush, Sr., age 86, of Troy, Alabama, passed away Friday, September 11, 2015, at his home. A celebration of his life will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2015, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Bush Memorial Baptist Church with Reverends Dwayne Norman and Ellis Bush, Jr. officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Calvary Baptist Church. Visitations will be Tuesday, September 15, 2015, from 4 – 7 p.m. at Green Hills Funeral Home and Wednesday, September 16, 2015, one hour prior to the service at the church. Dr. Bush served 68 years in the gospel ministry. He married Juanita Holmes of Troy, and they both finished Howard College in 1951. Together, they went to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. For much of his ministry, he served in Executive positions for the Southern Baptist Convention in places including the Alabama and Pennsylvania State Conventions as Editor, the Baptist Sunday School Board, for First Baptist Church, Shreveport, and the Executive Committee of the SBC. For the last 20 years of ministry, Dr. Bush served as Interim Pastor for several churches in the Troy area including the First Baptist Church of Troy, Bush Memorial Baptist Church of Troy, the First Baptist Church of Luverne, Salem Baptist Church of Brundidge, and Calvary Baptist Church in Troy. Dr. Bush was preceded in death by his parents Rev. and Mrs. W.M. Bush; sister, Lucile Jinright; brothers, Malan Bush, Jennings Bush, Bill Bush, Joe Bush and Freddie Bush. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Juanita Holmes Bush; children, Rev. Ellis M. (Becky) Bush, Jr., Joy Bush (Ron) Williams, Melody Bush (Dave) Mead, and Dr. Gayle Bush; grandchildren, Deena Williams, Matt Mead, Mark (Kelley) Williams, Bethany (Kevin) Werner, and Heidi (Derrick) Cook; great-grandchildren, Micah and Cody Werner; sisters-in-law, Virginia Bush, Isabelle Bush, B.J. Bush; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his honor to Bush Memorial Baptist Church (605 George Wallace Dr. Troy, AL 36081), The Gideons International (4858 County Road 4408 Brundidge, AL 36010), or to The Samaritan’s Purse (PO Box 3000 Boone, NC 28607). Friends and family can sign the guestbook online at www.greenhillsfuneralhome.net. The staff of Green Hills Funeral Home is honored to serve the Bush family.