Robert Carl Oakes

Born June 30, 1935 in Murphy, Mississippi, Robert spent his life in service to others. After receiving bachelor and master degrees from Mississippi College and the University of Louisville, Kentucky, he began teaching at Murrah High School in the sixties and became Vice Principal. Later he was Headmaster at Manhattan School in Jackson and Headmaster at Deer Creek School in Arcola. In the seventies he was Superintendent of Schools in Hollandale and subsequently Superintendent of Washington County. Upon retirement, he and Betty moved to the Jackson area to be with her mother and Robert took a position as Dean of Students at Rankin Campus of Hinds Community College.\ \ After retiring from education, he gave his time to Christian service, holding many positions in the Methodist conference and at Spring Ridge United Methodist Church. For seventeen years he made a yearly medical and dental mission trip to Honduras. He participated in the North Mississippi Walks to Emmaus and helped form the Central Mississippi Emmaus Walks. Prison ministry also was close to heart: he was active in Kairos and the Discipleship Bible Study classes at the prison in Rankin County.\ \ Preceded in death by brothers Thomas Edwin, Frank and Jack, he is survived by wife Betty, step-daughter Wendy (Mike) Allen of Tampa, Florida, sisters Jean (Joe) Murphy of Dallas, Texas, and Grace (Gene) Clarke of Hollandale, and brother Edgar (Heiu Soo) of Eastaboga, Alabama, and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at Chancellor Funeral Home, Byram, 5-7 pm Monday, January 23 and 9-10 am Tuesday, January 24 at Spring Ridge United Methodist Church, followed by a Memorial Service. Burial will be in Hollandale at 3:30 pm Tuesday, January 24. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations be made to Spring Ridge United Methodist Church.\ \ The family guestbook may be signed at www.chancellorfuneralhome.com. \