C.T. Studd wrote, "Only one life, twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." In many ways one could say this was the personal mission for Dr. Bobby and Wanda Mullins. After 44 years of marriage and serving 40 years together in the ministry they entered Heaven two days apart as a result of a car accident. Bro. Bobby passed away on Tuesday, September 3rd, with Mrs. Wanda joining him on Thursday, September 5th.
Both were born and raised in Memphis, TN. Bro. Bobby was a part of the 12- year club at Messick and Mrs. Wanda was in the second graduating class of SBEC (now Northpoint Christian). Growing up, Bobby was a member of Ridgeway Baptist Church and Wanda was a member at Broadway Baptist Church. Five years after Bobby graduated from the University of Tennessee, he met Wanda Hazlewood. Many of their dates were spent providing music for revivals and church banquets throughout the Mid-South area. They were married in 1980. They spent their entire marriage loving and serving God's people within various local churches in Memphis, Milan, Lenoir City, Oak Ridge, and Knoxville, TN. In addition to Hernando, MS, and finally Piperton, TN. Bro. Bobby also founded a non-profit ministry Back to the Basics Ministries which also hosted a weekly television program called, A Fresh Start. He was a proud graduate of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.
While, Bro. Bobby was the more vocal and visible one of the two, Mrs. Wanda's ministry was found on the piano bench and behind the scenes. No task was too small and the less she was noticed the better. She also served the Lord within the workplace from Penn Mutual in the 80s, Briarcrest Christian School in the 90s, Christian Academy of Knoxville in the 2000s, and finally in the ICU waiting room of Baptist-Desoto Hospital.
Their legacy will live on through their family: their three children; Brandon and Megan Mullins of Somerville, TN, Melody and Joey Amason of Knoxville, TN, and Mallory and Rocky McNabb of Lenoir City, TN, and their grandchildren; Brantley Mullins, Raelyn McNabb, Ella Mullins, and Browder McNabb.
They were preceded in death by Bobby's father Raymond L. Mullins, Sr., brother Ray Mullins, Jr., and Wanda's mother Johnnie May Hazlewood.
Along with their children and grandchildren, they are survived by Bobby's mother Vadine Mullins, Wanda's father Alvin Leon Hazlewood, siblings and in-laws; Carolyn Mullins, Sandy and Greg Frizzell, and Tim and Danise Hazlewood, and their three nieces and their families.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 11, from 5:00 until 7:00 PM, at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119. The Celebration of Life will be on Thursday, September 12, at 11:00 AM at Ridgeway Baptist Church, 2500 Ridgeway Rd, Memphis, TN 38119 with burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
