Lipscomb community mourns the loss of J.D. Elliott
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
Former Lipscomb trustee J.D. Elliott is being remembered today as a quiet, humble giant who did mighty things for Lipscomb University, the church and numerous community organizations.
Elliott died on Wednesday, July 22, following a brief illness. He was 78.
“J.D. Elliott had a profound impact on the community by supporting numerous organizations. He was an example of one who lived his life as an example of what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” said Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry. “He was a fine community and church leader who quietly, but strategically devoted his time and effort to making a difference in our community.”
From 1968-1994, Elliott, a native of Cedar Hill, Tenn., was president of Nashville Memorial Hospital. In 1994, Elliott helped found the Memorial Foundation with an endowment fund generated from the sale of the assets of Nashville Memorial Hospital. He served as president of the organization from its inception until the time of his death. The foundation works to improve quality of life through support of nonprofit organizations that fulfill community needs in the areas of health, human and social services, education and aging services among others. Over the course of two decades and under Elliott’s leadership, the corpus of the fund grew from $108 million to $150 million, according to a statement released Thursday by the organization. Over that time, the foundation has served 778 organizations, with grants totaling $135 million. Elliott also served as an elder at Madison Church of Christ for 25 years.
Through Elliott’s influence, the Memorial Foundation has awarded Lipscomb numerous grants over the past 20 years including a $600,000 grant that funded labs for patient assessment, compounding and integrated biomedical sciences, which comprise the Memorial Foundation Pharmacy Practice Center in the Burton Health Sciences Center. In addition, the foundation was instrumental in providing lead funding for the Nursing and Health Sciences Center that opened in 2012. He was also involved in a number of other programs and initiatives at Lipscomb including serving on the Nelson & Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership's leadership council.
“J.D. was passionate about Lipscomb University and has been an integral part of the institution’s success and growth in the more than 20 years that he was associated with the school,” said Lowry. “Not only did he provide expert leadership and guidance as a member of the board, but he also had a passion for supporting health care education at Lipscomb through his work at the Memorial Foundation.”
In August 1995, Elliott was appointed to Lipscomb’s Board of Trustees, serving a term as vice chairman and was a member of the board’s executive, board management, development and finance and real estate committees throughout his tenure, which ended in 2011.
“J.D. was serving as vice chairman of the board when I joined it in 2007,” recalled David Scobey, chairman of Lipscomb’s Board of Trustees. “He never sought attention for himself but modeled servant leadership to the fullest. He was well know in Nashville for his philanthropic spirit and service in God's kingdom and will be missed by all.”
He served on the board during three administrations, including those of Harold Hazelip, Steve Flatt and L. Randolph Lowry.
Hazelip said when Elliott was appointed to the board in 1995, “Lipscomb’s real strength for the future resides on her board of directors.”
“We need the love and commitment of strong leaders who have close ties with the church and whose lives are respected in the community at large,” he said. “J.D. embodies these characteristics and is well known and deeply respected by his peers.”
Neika Stephens, longtime trustee, was seated on the board at the same time as Elliott. She remembered Elliott as “a stabilizer on the Lipscomb board and in other organizations that he was a part of.” “If there was ever tension, he would bring calmness. He was a quiet giant that made an impact on many, many people.”
Elliott was instrumental in the hiring of Flatt and Lowry as Lipscomb’s 16th and 17th presidents respectively.
Flatt, whose friendship with Elliott goes back more than 30 years to their days together at Madison Church of Christ, credits him with shaping his career path in a significant way. Elliott was one of two elders at Madison in 1986 who encouraged Flatt to become fulltime minister at the congregation, a position he held from 1986-1997. In 1997, Elliott was on the search committee that recommended Flatt for the Lipscomb presidency after Hazelip’s retirement in 1997.
“I am blessed that for three decades, J.D. has been a great mentor, dear friend and a stellar role model of a Christian gentleman,” said Flatt, president of National Healthcare Corporation. “He was one of the finest men I’ve ever known. He was a unique individual who had tremendous vision, impeccable judgment and a rare gift of bringing people together to accomplish great things. J.D. poured his life into service for others. Whether at church, Lipscomb, Goodpasture, the Memorial Foundation or any of the numerous civic board on which he served, J.D. was constantly using his talents to serve others.”
When Flatt left office in May 2005 for an administrative appointment at NHC, Elliott once again played a key role in finding the right fit for the next Lipscomb president. He and former board chair Hilton Dean led the search committee.
“Through his quiet, humble spirit, J.D. has served Lipscomb in mighty ways,” said Lowry. “But he also has a special place in my heart, as he was one of the first people I met from Lipscomb University when he and Hilton Dean flew to Dallas, Texas, ten years ago this month to interview me for the presidency here. I have deeply valued his wise counsel, his guidance and his mentorship since that day.”
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Dean Roger Davis said Elliott is highly respected in the health care community.
“J.D. was known in the health care community as a highly competent, accountable, patient and focused CEO,” said Davis who first met Elliott more than 40 years ago. “Under his leadership, Memorial Hospital was an example of how excellent health care should and could be delivered. Innovation was always at the top of his list, which allowed quality healthcare to be achieved. His reputation for administering a hospital through very difficult financial waters while remaining focused on achieving better outcomes for patients was unsurpassed.”
Davis also was a member of the Lipscomb board for a portion of Elliott’s tenure.
“As a member of Lipscomb’s board, J.D. demonstrated the same zeal and demand for quality educational outcomes for students,” said Davis. “J.D.'s leadership was a great encouragement in the establishment of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. He was a man of vision who was driven by overwhelming compassion for those he served. J.D. was a trusted personal friend whose advice and counsel were often sought. He was a man of great character and integrity while demurring attention to himself. Not only Lipscomb University, but the health care community and the city of Nashville have lost a great champion of creating a better place to live where opportunity and health care are accessible to all people.”
Elliott served on a host of boards including the American Red Cross, Goodpasture Christian School, Access to Justice Commission, Metro Sports Authority in Nashville, Madison Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Nashville, Middle Tennessee Council – Boy Scouts of America, Alive Hospice, FiftyForward, Nashville’s Agenda, Nashville Zoo, Men of Valor, World Christian Broadcasting, American College of Healthcare Executives, American Hospital Association and Forward Sumner. He had a bachelor’s degree from Austin Peay State University and a master’s degree in hospital administration from Northwestern University. In 2012, Elliott was awarded the Kopio Award from Lipscomb University.
He is survived by his wife, Anita Raines Elliott; daughters, Juanita (Jeff) Stewart and Michelle (John) Arriola; son, David (Debi); six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Visitation is set for Saturday, July 25, from 4-8 p.m. at Madison Church of Christ and on Sunday, July 26 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. with the funeral following at 4 p.m. at Madison.