Dr. Robert L. Fairley

Robert Leonard Fairley was born on December 31, 1940 to Leonard Earl Fairley and Luesther Barnes Fairley in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the second of six children born to this union. He was raised and attended school in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. As the son of a preacher, he was introduced to the Lord and accepted Jesus Christ at an early age. His parents modeled what it meant to walk with the Lord and to trust him implicitly. This set the groundwork for the development of his remarkable faith in God.

On January 18, 1954, his father, Leonard Earl Fairley died which put the family in a precarious situation. Being the eldest son and feeling the responsibility to help his mother care for and keep his family together, Robert took on odd jobs such as selling newspapers, lawn care and caddying at the local golf course.

In June 1955, at the young age of 14, Robert along with his friend, John McGee made the decision to join the United States Navy. At this time, the minimum age to enlist in the United States Armed Forces was 16 years of age, however, since Robert was born in Louisiana they could not verify his age in Mississippi. He successfully passed the battery of exams and served on the USS Bennington until honorably discharged in 1959 in San Francisco, California.

Upon his discharge, he was met by his friend, John McGee and settled with their family in Menlo Park, California. While living with the McGee family, he met a neighbor by the name of Mary Ann McFadden who would later become his wife. Robert began working at the VA Hospital in Menlo Park, California and eventually relocated his entire family to California.

He became a member of the St. John Missionary Baptist Church of East Palo Alto, California under the pastorate of the late Rev. James Branch. At St. John, he was actively involved in church life until he acknowledged his call to the ministry in January 1960 making him a third generation gospel preacher. He was ordained in May 1962 and later served as the Assistant Pastor of St. John.

In 1962, he married his friend, Mary Ann McFadden and to this union four children were born: Fredrick, Ralph, Michael and Lori. Robert relocated his young family to San Jose, California where they were able to purchase their first home at 1648 Tierra Buena.

Robert and Mary’s home was oftentimes a hive of activity with family and friends of their children. They believed in ministering and positively impacting the lives of young people especially those whose lives became unsettled for one reason or another. Over the years, several young people came and resided with the family including: Gary Stewart, Harold Krause, Anthony Pratt, Walter Williams and Jarvis Price. Although they were not children by blood, they became children of their heart.

Robert worked various jobs including: Rhodes Department Store, Drug Counselor and Probation Officer, all the while pastoring and pursuing his educational endeavors. Mary worked as a Licensed Vocational Nurse to help support the family. She was actively involved in his education by assisting to type his papers including his thesis. In 1979, Mary stopped working as an LVN and joined Robert in full-time ministry.

Robert Leonard Fairley believed a call to ministry was a call to preparation and therefore began attending San Jose Bible College in San Jose, California where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968. He would be the first African American to graduate from the institution. He went on to attend Lincoln Christian Seminary in Lincoln, Illinois and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, California, where he received his Master of Divinity degree in 1974 and Doctor of Ministry in 1978. He was the second African American to earn a doctorate degree from Golden Gate Seminary. His thesis on “Developing a New Member Orientation Program in a Metropolitan Black Church” has become a model practiced in churches across the country.

Robert was blessed to have a unique ministry. He excelled in caring for the congregations he served and maintained relationships that over the course of the years enabled him to return and lead three churches that he previously served:

St. John Missionary Baptist Church 1962 – 1965 (Assistant Pastor)

East Palo Alto, California 1983 – 1997

Second Baptist Church 1965 – 1968

Redwood City, California 1970 – 1978

Forest Park Christian Church 1968 – 1970

Joliet, Illinois

New Hope Missionary Baptist Church 1978 – 1983

San Bernardino, California 1997 – 2015

New Hope Missionary Baptist Church 2016

Pastor Emeritus

Robert was an innovator in ministry. He started the trend of having new member orientation programs. He instituted fun activities like church in the park on Sundays, boat cruises around the San Francisco Bay with fashion shows, potlucks and annual Christmas parties. He and Mary would host an annual Open House inviting the entire congregation to attend where he sometimes would bake hundreds of Sweet Potato pies to feed the congregation. He started a travel ministry because he believed God’s world was to be experienced and enjoyed. They led groups on tours of the Holy Land, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Turkey, Greece and several other countries. Likely their most impactful—the Marriage Enrichment Ministry which included: Weekends to Remember, Sweetheart Banquets and a marriage getaway to Hawaii. This ministry afforded them to travel around the country and impact couples to have fun-filled, meaningful marriages that could last a lifetime. Robert and Mary went on to author a book entitled, “Marriage Enrichment for Couples in a Sex Crazed World”. So many lives were touched because they lived out what they taught.

Over the years, Robert received numerous awards and accolades including: Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans, Personalities of America, Foxington Who’s Who Executives & Professionals, Marquis Who’s Who in Religion, Board Member of OICW, Shads Club #62 member an auxiliary of the Eta Phi Beta Sorority. In 2022, he was awarded the United States President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for lifetime commitment for building a stronger America through service. Although each of these achievements were richly deserved for a life well lived, the legacy of being a man of integrity who loved God, loved his wife and family and loved God’s people will be remembered most of all.

After 63 years in ministry and over 53 years in the pastoral ministry, Robert went home to be with the Lord on August 5, 2023. He is preceded in death by his parents Leonard Earl Fairley and Luesther Barnes Fairley; sisters: Mary Elizabeth Rogers and Betty L. Barnes; Father-In-Law, Roosevelt McFadden and Mother-In-Law, Frankie Mae McFadden; Sister-In-Laws: Rose Fairley, Vesser Davis and Betty Jean Reed; Brother-In-Law, Vernard McFadden.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 61 years, Mary Ann McFadden Fairley; Four Children: Fredrick Leonard Fairley (Angela), Ralph Roosevelt Fairley (Dawn), Michael Vernard Fairley (Michelle) and Lori Ann Fairley Green (Jonathan).

Three Siblings: Veronica Fairley Woods, Eddie Earl Fairley Sr. (Yvonne) and Carrie Mae Fairley. One Sister-In-Law, Versie Lee McFadden Williams; one Brother-in-Law, William Rogers.

14 Grandchildren: Natasha Michelle Fairley, Jalyce Nicole Fairley, Michael Vernard Fairley II (Tanisha), Alexandria Marie Green (Arianna), Fredrick Leonard Fairley Jr. (Aziah), Ralph Roosevelt Fairley Jr., Cedrick Leonard Fairley (Monica), Nichelle Gloria Fairley, Raymond Daprice Fairley, Madilyn Ann Denise Middlebrooks, Robert Devon Fairley, Nichole Maryann Fairley, Jocelyn Ann Marie Green and Myles Anthony Fairley.

Seven Great Grandchildren: Aamira Nia Michelle Fairley Williams, Cameron Lamar Fairley, Fredrick Leonard Fairley III, Caylee Rae Fairley, Kennedy Grace Fairley, Emery Rose Fairley and Noah Symone Fairley.

Children-in-Law, Adopted/Foster Children and Godchildren: Pamela Coker, Tina McCray (Venturi), Khari Middlebrooks, Angela Loud-Fairley, Regina Davis, Rev. Gary E. Stewart, Rev. Harold J. Krause (Janice), Zee Griffith, Rev. Irving and Reba Heads, David Howard, Anthony Pratt, Nicole Henderson, Chache Wright and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and loved ones.

Sympathy Cards & Condolences for the family may be mailed to: The Fairley Family c/o Fuller Funerals, Inc 3100 Cutting Blvd, Richmond, CA 94804 or feel free to leave a message for the family, upload a picture or light a virtual candle here on our website.

LIFE

Life is just a stepping-stone

A pause before we make it home

A simple place to rest and be,

Until we reach eternity.

Everyone like Reverend Fairley has a life journey,

A path to take with lots to see

God guides our steps along the way,

But we were never meant to stay.

Our final destination is a place

Filled with love, His majesty and grace.

Today we celebrate the life of Reverend Robert L. Fairley

Who has gone before us, the race he has won.

His journey has now ended,

His spirit has ascended

Claiming the great reward

With Jesus, our Lord.