Robert Louis Sigrest Jr.

Robert Louis Sigrest, Jr., 87, of Brandon, MS, experienced the joys of his eternal home with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, May 17, 2025. Robert was born on July 5, 1937, in Yazoo City, MS to Robert Louis Sigrest, Sr. and Rubye Wadsworth Sigrest. Two years later his brother, George F. Sigrest was also born on July 5. He was known by several names-Robert L., Ralle, and R.L. He is survived by his wife, Beth, and his brother George, of Yazoo City.
R.L.'s love for music came naturally. He learned a lot from his dad who was a musician. R.L. taught himself to play the saxophone when he was a child and later several other musical instruments. He enjoyed being a member of the Yazoo High School band and later a member of the prized Stage band "The Merimakers," where he met his wife, Beth Hammons. They were married at First Baptist Church in Yazoo City on January 31,1959-67 years of wedded happiness. They made their home in Yazoo City until moving to their retirement home in Brandon, MS in 2020.
R.L. had several hobbies, among which his favorite was cars. His dad wisely did not give him a car in high school, but he headed off to Mississippi College in Clinton, MS in a custom painted pink and green Ford Coupe his freshman year, the envy of many a college student. The Ford was followed by a 1955 gold Chevrolet, the self-built roadster, his most cherished Austin Healey 3000, and the two-toned yellow Oldsmobile. R.L. enjoyed repairing and rebuilding his "old wheels." He was very handy with tools and could fix just about anything. R.L. loved nature and spent a great amount of time outdoors nurturing his plants and flowers.
As a young man, R.L felt the call of God on his life to enter a full-time Christian vocation. He did not know at the time exactly what that was to be. After attending a concert in 1966 by famed contralto Bette Stalnecker, he told his wife Beth, "I think I'm supposed to do something like that." He was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1961 and for 35 years he and Beth served as itinerant Christian musicians singing their way across the United States and many other countries. Together, they established Sacred Music Ministries, Inc., and recorded several Gospel Music albums. Travel was always an adventure for them as they shared God's beautiful world and the Good New of Christ wherever they went. Later in life he and Beth were engaged in local church interim music ministries in Cleveland, Yazoo City, and a long tenure at Calvary Baptist in Vicksburg, MS. He resigned from his ministry at the church in 2020 to begin a 5-year battle with cancer.
R.L. loved people and made friends easily. He was a great listener but always found an opportunity to share his faith with those he met, even to the end of life.
A memorial service will be held at Sebrell Funeral Home in Ridgeland, MS, Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service beginning at 1:00 PM. Interment will be at Glenwood Cemetery in Yazoo City, MS at a later time to be determined. Memorials may be sent to Salvation Army, MS Baptist Memorial Hospital, or the charity of your choice.