Rev. Robert Howard Conerly

CONERLY SANDY RIDGE - The Reverend Robert Howard Conerly, 84, of Sandy Ridge, died Friday, December 18, 2009, at his home, following a long illness. The Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, December 21, 2009, at Delta United Methodist Church with the Reverend Julie Roberts and the Reverend Daniel Medina officiating. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery in Siler City, NC, later in the day. Mr. Conerly was born on December 29, 1924, in Oakvale, Mississippi, the first child of the late Emmitt and Callie Daniels Conerly. Following military duty in World War II, he earned a BA degree from Millsaps College and a Masters of Divinity degree from Emory University. In 1979, he earned a Physician Assistant degree from Duke University Medical School. He served the United Methodist Church for more than 60 years in pastorates in Mississippi and Virginia and for 28 years as a missionary in Mexico. For the last ten years of his professional life, he was instrumental in the development of a Hispanic Ministry for the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Beth Joyner Conerly of the home; three sons, Robert (Waiya) Conerly of Ridgeland, Mississippi, Rodney (Lidia) Conerly of Conroe, Texas, and Carlos (Bev) Conerly of Bixby, Oklahoma; a daughter, Carol (Jeff) Rast of Fairfield, Idaho; ten grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dennis (Nella) Conerly of Columbus, Mississippi, and Tommy (Billie) Conerly of Lufkin, Texas; a sister, Sara (Maxie) Bruce of Mendenhall, Mississippi; sister-in-law, Peggy Ann Joyner of Greensboro, NC; and brother-in-law, Doctor Belton (Toni) Joyner, Jr. of Bahama, NC. The family wants to extend their sincere appreciation to Bob's caregivers: Rebecca Lilley, Debbie Wall. Stephanie Stowe, Sharon Holmes, Brenda Woolford, Chanda Holt, and Donna Shelton. Not only did they provide excellent care, but they offered their love, compassion, and true friendship to Bob and the family. The family will receive friends following the Service on Monday at Delta United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hispanic Ministry of the Northeast District of the United Methodist Church, 104 East Decatur Street, Madison, NC 27025 or to Delta United Methodist Church, C/o Mrs. Katie Amos, PO Box 15, Sandy Ridge, NC 27046. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." II Timothy 4:7 Colonial Funeral Home Stokes Chapel in Sandy Ridge is serving the family. Condolences may be offered at www.colonialfh.net.