Rev. Jacob Wells Sr.

REVEREND JACOB WELLS SR. was born on October 6, 1931 in Manning, South Carolina to the late Mr. Friendly Wells and the late Mrs. Mary (Richardson) Richburg-Wells. Jacob entered eternal rest in Baltimore, Maryland on December 20, 2012 after a lengthy illness. Jacob was the fourth of five children: James Richburg, Gardina Lewis and Annie Pearl Hilliard each preceded him in death with Samuel Wells a surviving sibling in South Carolina. On November 26, 1958 Jacob was united in marriage with Mamie Sabb. From this union five children were born. Jacob accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Elizabeth Baptist Church while in Manning. Upon arrival in Baltimore in 1955, he became a member of Corinth Baptist Church. He later joined St. Phillips Baptist Church where he preached his trial sermon. In 1966, he was ordained at New Unity Baptist Church of which he later became the Pastor. Jacob received his formal education at the schools of Clarendon County, South Carolina and completed his 12th grade education at the historic Manning Training School. He was never a stranger to hard work and took numerous jobs to support his family. He had been employed most of life as a truck driver with various companies, including Bergmeyer Bros. and Roadway. There was even a brief period where he owned his own semi-truck. His last employer was New Motor Express where he worked for nearly twenty years until his retirement in 1998. He was also a faithful member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Freight Driver’s Local Union #557. He did all of this while attending to his duties as Pastor and devoutly serving his church. Jacob was a loving father who was very protective of his family. There was no limit as to what he would do to provide for and help them. He was also a loyal and committed friend. In 1981, he was commended by then Mayor William Donald Schaefer and presented with a Hero Award for rescuing friend and mentor Rev. Julius McNair Sr. from a three alarm house fire while sustaining third degree burns in the process. Jacob would often be found around his home singing church hymns as well as practicing his sermons. Even the effects of Alzheimer’s disease did not stop his love for song! Although his voice grew faint he could still be heard singing his favorite hymn, “When the Saints Go Marching In”. It was his fervent prayer to be “in that number”. Jacob enjoyed playing the harmonica. He was also an expert whistler which was a talent famously passed on to him by his loving mother. He was an all-around handy man who installed tile, painted, fixed plumbing and always showed pride in his various home improvement projects. He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife, Mamie Wells; five children, Mary Thomas (Theodore), Angela Wells, Jacob Well Jr., Marvin Wells and Renee Wells; grandchildren, Rico Thomas Sr., Shakeya Foreman, Esq. (Tyree), Tavon Wells, Keaira Wells, Monique Wells, Shacondra Wells, Jasmine Wells and Kai Leviner; great-grandchildren, Rico Thomas Jr., Isaiah Well, Sean Fields and Cassidy Foreman; an adopted niece, Maxine Jenkins, who he helped raise as his own; brothers-in-law, Timothy Hilliard, James Sabb and Alphonso Sabb; sister-in-law, Beulah Hamilton; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Rev. Jacob Wells Sr.

October 6, 1931 - December 20, 2012