Dr. Robert "Bob" Self Obituary

Dr. Robert E. "Bob" Self, age 87, passed away Sunday afternoon, February 23, 2025, at his home near Enid, MS. Bro. Bob was the widower of the late Nancy Clower Self.

Funeral services will be 1:00 P.M. Friday, February 28, 2025, at Friendship Baptist Church in Grenada, MS with the interment to follow at Bethel Cemetery near Enid, MS. The family will be receiving friends Thursday from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. at Friendship Baptist Church and also Friday one hour before the service.

It is with earthly sorrow and Heavenly joy that we celebrate the homegoing of our daddy, granddaddy, and great granddaddy, Robert E. Self. Daddy caught his ride this past Sunday at 4:36 PM in the presence of his daughter and granddaughter and “those babies” that he loved so much. He took great joy in his twin great grandbabies and they covered him in their love until the end. He was the happiest of all any time he could be around his grandchildren and their children. 

Robert Earl Self was born on October 8, 1937, between Doddsville and Marigold in the Mississippi Delta. He was the first of five children born to parents, Georgia Marie Caviness Self and George William Self. His parents and siblings all preceded him in death. He grew up near Tchula, MS, in the Horseshoe community and spent all of his growing-up years there. His parents were sharecroppers and he learned early about the necessity of hard work. He told stories of hunting and fishing from the time he was a little boy in order to help feed the family. He and his three brothers formed strong bonds with each other as they shared in this task. Growing up, he had an especially close relationship with his grandfather whom he called Jake. Jake was a Godly man who often read the Bible to him aloud. He was a short little man with a huge spirit! He was led to Jesus by his grandfather when he was 9 years old. In his testimony, he said, “I didn’t know what a Christian was, but I knew if my granddaddy Jake was a Christian, then I wanted to be one, too.” 

He graduated from Tchula High School in 1955. He went on to attend Holmes Junior College, Mississippi College, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he obtained a PhD. When he was 12 years old, he met his future bride, Sim Nancy Clower. It would be many years later when he realized his love for her and the desire to make her his wife. They eloped on October 2, 1959, while he was on pass from the US Air Force. He often told the story how he returned to base and announced his new marriage. His commanding officer was not thrilled. Because he had a high security clearance status with the military, it was necessary that he get permission to marry, a requirement he was unaware of. His wife would soon get a visit to her elementary classroom by two FBI officers whose duty it was to “clear” her. Thankfully, it was determined that she was no threat to the security of the United States and their marriage could resume! In all, he spent three years overseas in Panama with the Air Force. His time was spent in an underground bunker working to decode messages that might be a threat to national security. He was a faithful soldier and received an honorable discharge in 1961. 

While attending a tent revival with his wife one night, he walked the aisle holding her hand and surrendered to the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He told of how she leaned over and whispered in his ear, “If you will answer the call, I’ll go anywhere with you to minister for Jesus.” Unknowingly to him, she had heard God’s call on his life before he did. Alongside her, he would go on to pastor churches all over Mississippi. Together, they would lead many to faith in Jesus Christ while encouraging Christian growth in a host of believers. She would go on to be a supportive, faithful preacher’s wife until her homegoing on December 9, 2008. Some of the churches he pastored were Harland’s Creek Baptist Church (Lexington, MS), Edon Baptist Church (Stringer, MS), Emmanuel Baptist Church (Biloxi, MS), First Baptist Church (Batesville, MS), First Baptist Church (Brookhaven, MS), and Friendship Baptist Church (Grenada, MS). He served as interim pastor to several local churches after his retirement. All told, he actively ministered for over 60 years. Over the years he loved to play golf, hunt, fish, and snow ski. His favorite thing of all was the spontaneous trips he took with “Miss Nancy”.

Together they had three children: AngeLina Marie Self (Van Russell), Robert Todd Self (Donna) and Jon Mark Self (Heather).  He lived a full life with few regrets. His family is left to carry forward the redeeming message of Jesus Christ, including his three children, 13 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren. 

"Be faithful to the point of death and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2:10