Bob Whitehead, from Pensacola, Florida, passed away in the early morning hours Friday, June 27th. Bob was a contributing writer for SoGospelNews and a friend to many in the southern gospel community. There is no funeral service planned. He will be missed by many.
Cliff Cerce wrote the following tribute to Bob's memory.
Bob Whitehead was a dear friend. I first learned of him through his postings on the SoGospelNews.com “list” that is sent to subscribers throughout the day. My first impression of him turned out to be dead-on accurate—seeing him as one quick to help anyone with a technical or informational question. A Microsoft-certified programmer (MCSD, short for Microsoft Certified Solution Developer), he was proficient in Visual Basic, among other skills. He worked from home as a programmer, until his severe diabetes caused him to go on full disability.
He scared me almost to death the first time I actually met him in person in the Fall of 2002. We were in Smyrna, TN—just outside Nashville—to sing at the SoGospelNews.com concert held at River of Life Assembly of God. We gathered at the local Shoney’s Restaurant for a brunch earlier that day and everyone was asking where Bob was, as he had not yet arrived. Then someone yelled, “There he is!” as a white car came zipping around the corner, headed for the plate glass window of the restaurant (that I was standing across from) and then miraculously came to a stop in time in the parking space, as we all instinctively took a few protective steps backward. Then this energetic man, with a grin four feet wide, jumped out of the car and ran into the restaurant, enthusiastically greeting everyone. That was Bob!
He sang that night in the concert and did a good job. We talked often on the phone after that, and I found him to be a great prayer partner, as we regularly remembered each others’ needs in prayer. He sent me a treasure not long ago—unfinished recordings from a never-finished solo album he worked on years ago, before the studio went out of business. He loved to sing about his Lord—and it showed.
We passed through his town of Pensacola, FL several years ago in the late Summer of 2005, and we went to breakfast with him. Then, we went to the beach for a day of swimming, but he had to leave because he wasn’t feeling well. We offered to leave with him, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He just suggested we get together for dinner before we left town, and we did later that day at one of his favorite restaurants.
But, dinner didn’t last for several hours, as it often can with friends, as he had to leave to get to his Monday night Bible study. Bob loved his church, Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola. He would often bring me up to date on what was happening there, and was clearly a plugged-in member.
That was the last time I saw Bob in person, though we have spoken many times since on the phone. The diabetes appears to have caused numerous health issues over the last several years. His ultimate dream was to move to Jim Bakker’s Morningside Community. We visited there a few weeks ago, and we stopped and prayed there on the grounds that God would grant Bob’s wish.
But instead, God took him to a better place. He will be missed.
Author: SGN
| Author's Website: http://sogospelnews.com/
Written: 07/02/2008
| 
Category: Feature Articles
Comments: 11
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Bob was always the first to comfort when you were sad, the first to cheer when you had an acheivement, he was there to pray when you had problems, and he was there to encourage when you were down.
I met him the first time in person at the first Legacy Five concert. He seemed to know everyone there when he came up and anyone he might not know he met before he left.
Even though I knew he was in bad health, my first reaction when I got the email was shock- not Bob. But my next reaction was thinking of him running around heaven after bowing at Jesus feet, I imagine he is greeting so many friends and those he loved to hear sing. What a time he will be having now!
DeeAnn
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Thanks, Cliff, for sharing you wonderful memories of Microsoft Bob! He was indeed a big part of our on-line family.
God is good - all the time
All the time - God is good
Bob Whitehead was among the very first members of our E-mail list, and he was very loyal to it. It took Bob a little while to warm up to the Message Boards on the website, but he finally made the transition and became a poster on the forums as well.
I remember the first time I ever met Bob in person. He was living in California at the time, working for Microsoft. I guess he will always be affectionately remember by those of us early members on the E-mail list as Microsoft Bob, that was his internet name. Bob was moving back to Nashville and he was SOOOOO happy. We were still living in Southaven, MS at the time, and that's just a stone's throw from Interstate 40 in Memphis, so Bob wanted to meet for lunch.
After I set everything up, I got to thinking, I've never met this guy before and a lot of weird people are on the internet, what if he's a serial killer. Seriously, I didn't know what I had gotten myself in to. It took about two minutes of seeing his smiling face and already hearing one "well Glooorrryy", and I knew that we were going to have a great meeting time. We talked about the Lord and Southern Gospel music for more than an hour when he said he needed to be on his way, but before he left, he gave me some of the biggest California oranges that I had ever seen. Now every time I see a big orange, I think of Bob Whitehead. He made it by to visit a few more times, and after we moved to Nashville, he moved to Florida, but every time he came back to Nashville to visit, he always made time to visit with us. He even spent Christmas Day with us one year.
Bob loved SGM, and of course he loved Kirk Talley music. If Kirk had a soundtrack out, Bob had it and was singing it. Bob loved the Lord, and wasn't afraid to let it be shown.
We are going to miss Bob and his "Well Glooorrryy", but can hear him shouting that in Heaven right now,
Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
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I recall over 10 years ago, when I first 'met' Bob online. I believe it was on the Sogospel email list. Back at a time when those type things were a good thing. At that time on the ranch, we didnt get much gospel music [go figure]. Bob sent me a couple cassettes that he thought I would enjoy. Still have them, as a matter of fact.
Bobs bubbly personality was a joy to be around. Me, being the Mac man that I am, really got him itchy at times, but it was well worth it.
I talked to Bob on the phone a half dozen times a year, let alone constantly on chat. Bob, just a few weeks ago went and recorded some songs he wanted us to do. At the time of his death those songs were sitting on his recorder waint to be mp3'd, where they still are I assume
Bob was one of the biggest supporters of our group, always such an encouragement. We would chat before we hit the road and he would be all excited about how the Lord was going to use us.
I was most saddened to learn of his passing, yet excited for him as he has now met our Lord and Savior, and I can just imagine him peeking over the portals of glory at us.
I was a blessing for me to have known Bob through these past 10+ years.
Well...GLORY!!
While we were not "big" fans of southern gospel, we are big fans of Bob Whitehead. It was thru Bob that we learned to love and go to concerts of the Cathedrals, Sandy Patti, Steve Green, Kirk Talley, and The Talleys. We, Horace & Betty McKenzie, met Bob at the Lord's Chapel in Brentwood, outside of Nashville over 26 years ago. We have been thru the good and the difficult times with Bob. The 3 of us and our daughter, Mary Carroll, were in the ministry together for about 2 years. We almost lived together at that point. Since Bob had a 1/2 sister named Betty, that he had lost contact with, and I, (Betty), had a brother named Bob that was killed when I was 17, we became each others' "brother" and "sister. When many people met us, they tried to fit us into a "box" that they could understand, but for those of you who know Bob, you can't fit him into a box. People thought he was our son, though he was only 5 years younger that I, (Betty) am. Other people thought he was my husband. People had a hard time understanding our relationship. He was "alone" when we met him, and he fast became a part of our family. We shared birthdays, holidays, etc. together. He even gave me a surprise birthday party once, complete with clown and balloons. We remember Bob's generosity. If he had it, he would give it. He paid for us to go to a Gaither's Family Fest one week-end. We went on 2 cruises with him that the Talleys were on and numerous Believer's Conventions with Kenneth Copeland Ministries. He blessed us with so many things we would never have experienced otherwise. About the time we moved to Monroe, N.C. in 2000, Bob moved to Atlanta were he fulfilled his lifelong dream of living in a 26th floor deluxe apartment in a very nice apartment building. He loved that place.
He came here every March to celebrate joint birthdays with Horace and Mary Carroll. He came every Thanksgiving until last year when we went there because he was unable to travel. We decorated "his little house for Christmas, and as far as we know it is still decorated.
Last Christmas, he was unable to travel, so as our family gathered on Christmas Day, we used web-cams to be together. That was the last time we saw him, but we talked by phone almost every day.
When he was in the hospital in February-March 2007, we went down and stayed a month with him. When we went back in June, and again at Thanksgiving I, (Betty), talked to him sometimes twice a day, while he was in the hospital. We were not able to go due to our 50th wedding anniversary celebration planned for June 28th. Our anniversary is actually June 27th, and though he wanted to be here with us so much, we know that his spirit was here even though his body was not. We had a "celebration of life", service for him last Friday night (6/27) with family and friends that had come for our anniversary, and who and loved Bob. We told stories, laughed, cried, read scripture, and prayed. It was a precious time and we know he was here with us. We can rejoice that he is in the presence of the Lord, singing, dancing, and running the streets of Glory!
We will leave on Monday, July 7, to go to Pensacola to take care of Bob's affairs. We covet your prayers and we thank all of you who have helped in any way to get us thru this difficult time. Many people will miss Bob as a friend. We will miss him so much more. We rejoice for him, but he leaves behind a big hole in our hearts that nothing can fill.
We are comforted by the knowledge that we will see him again very soon...
Bob was one of a kind. He had a heart as big as a house. I had only met him a couple of times, but spoke with him from time to time over the phone and via email most often.
He was a wonderful human being and his presence here on earth will be sorely missed.
Horace, thank you for sharing about Bob. He was such a supporter of our work and a dear friend. I think about him daily. He is missed but he is so blessed now.
Susan Unthank
http://susan.sogospelnews.com/
http://mostlyorganized.com/
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Horace, a couple of times as he was going to or from Charlotte, Bob stopped in Greenville, SC to say hello to us. He loved you guys and spoke of those trips with such joy!!
DeeAnn
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So saddened to hear about Bob's leaving us - but rejoicing at his homegoing!
Never will forget our first encounter with Bob. The group I was with at the time "The Gabriels" was supposed to sing at a benefit for his church in Nashville. Our bus broke down & we didn't make it to Nashville until later that night in a U-Haul truck (it was the first and only time our group was ever mentioned on Paul Heil's program as well - for not showing up!).
The church was located on the edge of the red light district & Bob had us singing there the next morning. He met us that night to set up the equipment & when we pulled up he was asleep in his car (except we weren't certain if he was asleep or dead as it took us several minutes to wake him up).
We had a great time & were so impressed at his big heart for the homeless people his church ministered to.
We pulled up the next morning & the parking lot was full of people on bicycles & carrying all their possessions in backpacks & Bob was right there encouraging & ministering to everyone. What an encouragement he was to us!
He will certainly be missed!
Mike,
It's so good to hear from you. I remember our first SGN Festival in Memphis/Southaven with you, The Gabriels, Bob and so many others. I think about you and The Gabriels often. Thanks for coming by and remembering Bob with us.
Susan Unthank
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I am one of the "old-timers" on the list dating back to the days when we "chatted" on the Singing News site. I have not been on the web site for a long time due to work obligations, but I wanted to say farewell and I will see you later to Bob. I was shocked to learn of his passing.
I met Bob on the internet as many of you did and liked him immediately. He was intelligent, humorous, and kind. He could engage in a lively discussion of a controversial topic and yet never offend anyone regardless of their position. He had a genuine love of people and respected everyone.
When Bob moved to Nashville, we met during the work week at a restaurant on the north side of the city. I can't recall the restaurant's name, but they served lunch "family style". Everyone sat down together and passed the bowls full of food prepared county-style. I witnessed Bob strike up conversations with everyone within earshot as if he was intimately familiar with them.
His gentle, unselfish spirit will be sorely missed here, but he has run his race and kept the faith. He is undoubtedly enjoying the treasures that have been laid up in Heaven awaiting his arrival.
Mike Wiggington
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