Elmer Maurice “Jack” Pullen passed away peacefully Friday, March 21, 2025, at Bluegrass Hospice Care, Lexington, KY at the age of 81. He was born to the late Maurice Pullen and Nola Sims Pullen. He was a lifelong member of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Brookport. He served his country as a member of the United
States Army.
He graduated from Brookport High School and went on to graduate from Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Charleston, Illinois, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Education. He was employed as a Financial Aid Counselor at EIU for more than 30 years. He was proud to be named Boss of the Year by his staff in the Financial Aid Office.
He was known for his voluntary service to the university and its students as well as the Charleston, Illinois community during his employment and in retirement. He contributed immensely to making EIU the welcoming, diverse community it is today.
Elmer served as a volunteer for many nonprofit organizations while living in Charleston. He was involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters as a Big Brother and a board member, and even received a Big Brother of the Year award. He also was a Rotary Club member and was a board member of the Central East Alcohol and Drug Council. He coached a youth baseball team and was a manager of an adult softball team.
Jack participated in ElU Panther Athletics as an official whenever he could, especially for track and field and as a long-time active member of the EIU Panther Booster Club. Jack was also an avid golfer and was a member of the Charleston Country Club and Metropolis Country Club.
After retirement, he and his wife, Fran, moved back to Brookport where he became involved in the Brookport Community. He was a member of the Massac County School Board, the Brookport Betterment Committee, Board Member of the Brookport Library and active in Brookport High School reunions. He served on EIU’s Board of Trustees for four years and the Southern Most Area Rural Transit (SMART)
Board.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Nola Pullen, and his grandparents, Maurice and Laura Pullen and Elmer and Mary Sims.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Frances Payne Pullen, one son, Jahmal (Angela) Pullen of Raleigh, NC, and one daughter, Janelle (Corey) McNeal of Lexington, KY. Two grandsons, Mitchell and Winston McNeal, of Lexington, KY. One sister, Diane (Gary) Payne of Lexington, KY, and numerous family members and friends.
A service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, 12:00 NOON, at Brookport Community Center located at 287 W. 3rd St., in Brookport, IL. The service will be livestreamed on Pettus-Rowland Funeral Home, LLC Facebook Page beginning at 11:45 a.m. (CST). The visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Bethel Cemetery with Military Honors.
Pettus-Rowland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. You may leave condolences at www.pettusrowlandfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to: Bethel A.M.E. Church, P.O. Box 597, Brookport, IL 62910, or Brookport Library, P.O. Box 744, Brookport, IL 62910
