Bobby Ray James

In the famous words of Brother Bob, “I have lived a Super Fantastic life!”

Bobby Ray James was born June 19, 1936, in Stokes, North Carolina. Surrounded by his family, our beloved Pops entered his heavenly home on June 21, 2025, at the age of 89 years old. He was preceded in death by his only child, Randolph Sebastian James.

Bob was in the ministry for over 60 years. He knew from the time he was a little boy he wanted to be a preacher. As Bob quoted, “ When I was four, I used to go to the woodpile behind the house, stand a log up and preach to the chickens.” Following high school Bob enrolled in Atlanta Christian College. He was ordained as a minister in the Church of Christ on September 2, 1956, while still a student. He spent two years as a youth minister at a church near Atlanta, Georgia, while he finished his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies. His first full time pulpit was at Acworth Christian Church in Georgia. From there he moved to Pinetown, North Carolina, then accepted a position at First Christian Church in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Bob preached at several other churches and in 1973, he left one of the largest Christian Churches in Mississippi to go to one of the smallest in Tupelo. The church was about to close due to the lack of members; therefore, they could not afford to pay a minister. That did not stop Brother Bob! He worked odd jobs, doing whatever was necessary to pay the bills. Two years later when Brother Bob left, the congregation had grown to 90 members from six!

In 1998, Brother Bob arrived at First Christian Church in Dewitt, Arkansas, where he preached until he retired. He then moved back to Murfreesboro, Arkansas, where he continued to hold revivals and became the minister at First Christian Church in Nashville, Arkansas. Brother Bob never really retired. In his own words, “Why would I retire? I love life, I love people, and I enjoy what I do.”

Brother Bob was awarded “Good Neighbor of the Year” in 2003 by the Dewitt Chamber of Commerce. He was also recognized for many years of weekly devotionals by the Dewitt Senior Citizens Center and was selected as an Honored Member of The Heritage Registry of Who’s Who 2006-2007 edition. However, his real love was holding revivals! He held well over 120 revivals in his ministry career! As he stated, “All my life, that’s all I’ve ever wanted to be…a preacher.”

Survivors include his wife, Carol Steuart James of 18 years, daughters, Freela Barker (Jesse) of Murfreesboro, Arkansas and Jennifer Kirk (Shawn) of Vero Beach, Florida, Grandsons, Zane Barnett (Alisha) and Tate Barnett (Chanel) and Great-grandchildren Teegan, Meakayla, Izabella, Lucas, River, and Willow.

A private memorial will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Murfreesboro Cemetery.

You may send an online sympathy message at www.latimerfuneralhome.com