Robert Morris Overton was born in Fulton Mississippi on October 8, 1934, and passed away in Houston, Texas on February 20, 2019.

He was known by many names; Bobby, Bob, Brother Bob, Dr. Bob, Dr. Overton, Daddy, Dad, and of course, Honey, by his precious wife of 63 years.

Bob's life always revolved around his faith in Christ, and a deep love for the church. His Father was a Pastor, so he learned from an early age what it meant to lead and serve a congregation. Each Saturday, beginning in 1945, he traveled to Tupelo MS to play the piano for the beginning and conclusions of his father 's radio ministry program, which was broadcast across the southern US and Mexico. In addition to his parents, brother and sisters, his household growing up also included students who attended his f ather's "Preacher School" . Bob enrolled at Mississippi College to study Theology in 1952, shortly after his Dad's untimely death. He admitted later that he was far ahead of his classmates in knowledge of the Bible, which was a direct result of the education he had already received.

While at MC, he met Joe Ann Little, who would become his wife and partner in ministry, one inseparable unit, for more than six decades. According to Joe Ann, Bob expected nothing out of life except to be able to preach the Gospel. He loved God most, but she was without question, the only number two. Together, they ventured to Fort Worth Texas to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a Masters of Divinity, and ultimately a Doctorate in Ministry.

He began pastoring churches while in Seminary, beginning an active preaching ministry that endured until his death. His Pastoring ministry included Redland Baptist Church near Lufkin TX. During this time, the local public schools were forced to integrate, and he spent days walking the halls of schools to help students, teachers, and administrators with the changes that he was convinced needed to happen. He was passionate that the Gospel was for all people, and his ministry that spanned over 30 years at Rice Temple Baptist Church was a perfect example of his calling. The church, located in Houston between Rice University and the Texas Medical Center, became an international congregation that continuously equipped people in the faith, who then went all over the world proclaiming the Gospel in their domains of influence. The ministry of the church created opportunities for him to teach pastors in South Korea and The Philippines.

While pastoring, he began to teach classes as an Adjunct Professor for the Seminary in its newly formed Houston campus at HBU. Upon retiring from Rice Temple Baptist, he became the Director of the Houston Campus and continued to teach full time until 2016 when he retired from his role as Associate Dean. In additional to his teaching, he preached regularly, and served as an Interim Pastor for several Houston area churches, including Uvalde Baptist, Garden Oaks Baptist, and First Baptist Crosby. He also served as the Moderator for the Union Baptist

Association, a Trustee at Houston Baptist University, and a member of the Texas Baptist Executive Board.

While at the Seminary, he created an undergraduate degree program for lay pastors in the Houston area to receive the formal education that they needed. He was also a key part of the creation of the Ministry degree program for inmates at the Darrington Unit (Texas Department of Criminal Justice), where he enjoyed teaching the Pastoral Ministry courses immensely during the past few years. He considered his students in the program as perhaps his favorite groups to teach in his entire tenure. His students loved him, treating him with great care and concern. And he loved them for their passion and commitment to what he considered to be a Missionary role. He continued to teach until May of 2018.

He is survived by his wife, Joe Ann Overton; his children, Judith Overton Williams and husband Tim, Robert Overton, Jr. and wife Julie, and Jean Ann Overton; grandchildren, Kelley Williams Kincaid and husband Chris, Meredith Joann Williams, Joshua William Overton, and Daniel Austin Overton; siblings, James D. Overton and wife Linda, Jan Thomas and husband J.R., and Carolyn Slaughter and husband Charles; and half-sister, Martha Lou Bolton. Preceding him in death were his father, A.M. Overton and mother, Edna, along with half siblings Andy Overton and Lillian Todd.

Bob' s family will receive friends and loved ones for a visitation from 1:30-3pm, followed directly by a funeral service at 3 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at Rice Temple Baptist Church, 6409 Greenbriar Dr, Houston, TX 77030. His body will be laid to rest in a private burial following the funeral service.

And now, the rest of the story as remembered by family and friends…

He Maketh No Mistake

My Father's way may twist and turn My heart may throb and ache, But in my soul I'm glad to know, He maketh no mistake. My cherished plans may go astray, My hopes may fade away, But still I'll trust my Lord to lead, For He doth know the way. Tho' night be dark and it may seem That day will never break, I'll pin my faith, my all, in Him, He maketh no mistake. There's so much now I cannot see, My eyesight's far too dim, But come what may, I'll simply trust and leave it all to Him. For by and by the mist will lift, And plain it all He'll make, Through all the way, tho' dark to me, He made not one mistake.

- A.M. Overton, 1932

Link to poem - https://bit.ly/2IyFqX7