Reverend Robert (Bob) Lee Partridge, Jr., 89, of Fayetteville, Georgia passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 14, 2023.
Bob was born to Robert Lee Partridge, Sr. and Lucile Duke Partridge in Raymond, Georgia on Sunday, August 12, 1934. He graduated from Newnan High School and joined the Army National Guard of Georgia as a teenager, where he proudly served while pursuing higher education and even through the early years of his pastoral career.
Bob attended both West Georgia College (“WGC” — now known as The University of West Georgia) and later The University of Georgia. Bob was a very talented baseball player at WGC and held the record batting average at the school for a number of years. While at WGC, and being recognized for his talent as a left-handed, knuckleball pitcher, Bob was honored to be drafted by the Baltimore Orioles.
This event, however, prompted Bob to choose his destined path in life, and as such, he left baseball behind and followed his faith and his heart and devoted his life to the ministry. After graduating from The University of Georgia, Bob later attained his “Master of Divinity” degree from Emory University.
In June 1957, Bob married the love of his life, Carol Ann Garner. Shortly after marrying, the couple accepted their first church appointment through the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church (NGUMC). This first appointment in Bishop, GA, would be just the first of approximately 14 appointments for Bob and Carol Ann throughout Bob’s 42 years of service with the Conference.
Bob and Carol Ann’s marriage proudly produced four sons, and throughout their lives, there has been nothing more special to the couple than spending time with their sons and their extended families.
Bob officially retired from the NGUMC in 1999 but continued to serve until 2017 by associating and assisting with various Georgia churches in limited roles. During this period, he continued to comfort, support and uplift church members, family, and friends by officiating at weddings, homecomings, funerals, and other special occasions.
Bob was an inspiration to all who knew him, as he lived his life with grace, dignity, and humility. He will be dearly missed by his family and those friends and church members who were privileged to have crossed his path. And he never quit rooting for his favorite baseball team, “The Atlanta Braves”!
Bob is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Joe Partridge. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife and partner of 66 years, Carol Ann Partridge; sons, Lee (Stacie) Partridge, Jeff (Connie) Partridge, Tim (Alison) Partridge, and Mark (Marilee) Partridge; grandchildren, Andy (Ali) Partridge, Diana (Jeremy) Snyder, Amy (Justin) Evans, Jordan (Kristi) Partridge, Brad (Katie) Partridge, Brett (Chelsea) Partridge, Haley Partridge, Clay Partridge, Emma Partridge, Ashe Boylan-Partridge; and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church on Monday, December 18, 2023, at 2:00 PM, with Reverend Dr. Thomas Martin and Reverend Mark Westmoreland officiating.
We welcome you to leave your condolences, thoughts, and memories of Bob on our Tribute Wall.
Mowell Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Fayetteville, www.mowells.com
