George Robert (Bob) Chambless was born to Stewart and Pauline Chambless in Greenwood, Mississippi on March 17, 1943. He died in Cumming, Georgia on November 20, 2025.
Bob graduated from Greenwood High School in 1961. It was in Greenwood where he met his long-time mentor and friend, Dr. Thomas L. Are at First Presbyterian of Greenwood, minister of music in 1957. Tom instilled the love of music in Bob and convinced him to attend Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. During his years at Westminster, Bob was president of his Freshman and Senior class and conductor of the Chapel Singers. Bob often said one of the treasured experiences of his life was having the opportunity to sing over 30 performances with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic under conductors Leopold Stokowski, Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormandy, Herbert Von Karajan, Herman Scherkin and Joseph Krips. Also, at Westminster, Bob met and studied voice and conducting with his other mentor, Bob Simpson. He continued study with Bob Simpson the remainder of his life. Upon graduation from Westminster, Bob pursued graduate work at American University in Washington DC where he graduated with a masters degree in Sacred Music in 1970. Bob also studied conducting with Elaine Brown, Richard Westinburg, Frauke Hassemann, Eph Ely, Don Neuen and Rene Clausen.
In 1963, Bob met the love of his life, Bette Bodley, at a professional music school in Denver, Colorado. They were married in 1967. Bette was a constant support to Bob as she accompanied many of his choirs on piano and harp! In 1978, Bette gave birth to Susan Ruth. Bob often spoke of his deep pride and love for Susan Ruth. Bob and Bette enjoyed camping and traveling which included three trips to Scotland where the visited many dear friends. They also took many trips to Prince Edward Island as their favorite destination along with 15 times to Nova Scotia.
Bob served as director of music Ministries in Presbyterian churches for 42 years. It was during his graduate work at American University he served his first church, Fairlington Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1971, he joined his mentor Tom Are at Shallowford Presbyterian in Atlanta. In 1978, Bob moved to Peachtree Presbyterian Church and was there until 1989 when he returned to Shallowford Presbyterian where he retired in 2008. During these years he was also a part-time Affiliate Teacher in Voice at Emory University.
Bob loved working with his high school choirs. He took them on a two week tour every summer throughout the Eastern United States and Canada. He led them on 3 tours to Scotland where they sang in Edinburg Castle, Sterling Castle, St. Giles Cathedral, as well as churches every night. He was a clinician and conductor for choral and handbell workshops throughout the Eastern United States and led a two-week choral seminar for public school teachers in Brasilia, Brazil. He was president of the Atlanta Chapter of Choristers Guild, on the executive board of the Georgia Coalition for Arts Education, president of the board of the Northlake Children's Chorus, also on the boards of Atlanta Presbytery's Camp Calvin and Atlanta Fly Fishing Club.
In retirement, his greatest joy was being with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed tutoring with La Amistad, volunteering with Camp Sunshine, reading to 1st graders at Clarkston Elementary, working with refugee resettlement, shepherding the 3rd and 4th grade Sunday School at Shallowford and fly fishing with his buddies in the Atlanta Fly Club.
Bob is survived by his wife (Bette Bodley Chambless), daughter (Susan Ruth), son-in-law (Darin), grandchildren (Beckham, Taylor, Summer), great grandchildren, brother-in-law (Bill Bodley)/ sister-in-law (Theresa Bodley), beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Celebration of Life
January 15, 2025 @ 2pm ET
Shallowford Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA
Live stream information coming soon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to:
Camp Sunshine
1850 Clairmont Road
Decatur, GA 30033
Bob graduated from Greenwood High School in 1961. It was in Greenwood where he met his long-time mentor and friend, Dr. Thomas L. Are at First Presbyterian of Greenwood, minister of music in 1957. Tom instilled the love of music in Bob and convinced him to attend Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. During his years at Westminster, Bob was president of his Freshman and Senior class and conductor of the Chapel Singers. Bob often said one of the treasured experiences of his life was having the opportunity to sing over 30 performances with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic under conductors Leopold Stokowski, Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormandy, Herbert Von Karajan, Herman Scherkin and Joseph Krips. Also, at Westminster, Bob met and studied voice and conducting with his other mentor, Bob Simpson. He continued study with Bob Simpson the remainder of his life. Upon graduation from Westminster, Bob pursued graduate work at American University in Washington DC where he graduated with a masters degree in Sacred Music in 1970. Bob also studied conducting with Elaine Brown, Richard Westinburg, Frauke Hassemann, Eph Ely, Don Neuen and Rene Clausen.
In 1963, Bob met the love of his life, Bette Bodley, at a professional music school in Denver, Colorado. They were married in 1967. Bette was a constant support to Bob as she accompanied many of his choirs on piano and harp! In 1978, Bette gave birth to Susan Ruth. Bob often spoke of his deep pride and love for Susan Ruth. Bob and Bette enjoyed camping and traveling which included three trips to Scotland where the visited many dear friends. They also took many trips to Prince Edward Island as their favorite destination along with 15 times to Nova Scotia.
Bob served as director of music Ministries in Presbyterian churches for 42 years. It was during his graduate work at American University he served his first church, Fairlington Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1971, he joined his mentor Tom Are at Shallowford Presbyterian in Atlanta. In 1978, Bob moved to Peachtree Presbyterian Church and was there until 1989 when he returned to Shallowford Presbyterian where he retired in 2008. During these years he was also a part-time Affiliate Teacher in Voice at Emory University.
Bob loved working with his high school choirs. He took them on a two week tour every summer throughout the Eastern United States and Canada. He led them on 3 tours to Scotland where they sang in Edinburg Castle, Sterling Castle, St. Giles Cathedral, as well as churches every night. He was a clinician and conductor for choral and handbell workshops throughout the Eastern United States and led a two-week choral seminar for public school teachers in Brasilia, Brazil. He was president of the Atlanta Chapter of Choristers Guild, on the executive board of the Georgia Coalition for Arts Education, president of the board of the Northlake Children's Chorus, also on the boards of Atlanta Presbytery's Camp Calvin and Atlanta Fly Fishing Club.
In retirement, his greatest joy was being with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed tutoring with La Amistad, volunteering with Camp Sunshine, reading to 1st graders at Clarkston Elementary, working with refugee resettlement, shepherding the 3rd and 4th grade Sunday School at Shallowford and fly fishing with his buddies in the Atlanta Fly Club.
Bob is survived by his wife (Bette Bodley Chambless), daughter (Susan Ruth), son-in-law (Darin), grandchildren (Beckham, Taylor, Summer), great grandchildren, brother-in-law (Bill Bodley)/ sister-in-law (Theresa Bodley), beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Celebration of Life
January 15, 2025 @ 2pm ET
Shallowford Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA
Live stream information coming soon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to:
Camp Sunshine
1850 Clairmont Road
Decatur, GA 30033
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