Rev. Robert Lee Osborne, 73, of Ashburn died Monday, December 19, 2005 at his residence. Rev. Osborne was a resident of Tifton from 1972-2001.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 21, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with Rev. Lowell F. Brock, Rev. H.E. Wheatly and Rev. William E. Wood officiating. Burial will follow at Tift Memorial Gardens with full military honors. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening at Bowen-Donaldson. Pallbearers will be Craig Folds, Robert E. Osborne, David Mathis and Timothy Mathis (grandsons), Rev. Ricky Revels and J.B. Newell, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Ray Guy, Keith Reynolds, Dr. James Powell, Jerry Branam, Todd Moog, Narce Avery, Kenny Guy, J.B. Newell, Sr., Bubby Ledford, J.R. Osborne and Rev. Allen Brock. Any visiting ministers of all denominations are also asked to serve as honorary pallbearers.
Rev. Osborne was born on June 9, 1932 in Dalton and was the son of the late Herbert Monroe and Elizabeth Carroll Osborne. He was also preceded in death by 2 brothers, Floyd and Jimmy Osborne.
Rev. Osborne served in the United States Army from 1950-1954 during the Korean Conflict. He received his Local License with the United Pentecostal Church, International (UPCI) in 1972 and his General License in 1973. He was ordained in 1974. Rev. Osborne pastored the First United Pentecostal Church in Tifton from 1973 through 1993. He retired in 1993 due to declining health. During his pastorate, approximately 15 ministers worked under his ministry.
Rev. Osborne served as the Georgia State Secretary of the Sunday School Department of the UPCI from 1976-1979. He also served as Presbyter over 16 churches in the Southwest Georgia District from 1979-1993.
For more than two decades he served as Chaplain of the Tift County Sheriff’s Department. He ministered in the Alcohol, Chemical Treatment Series (ACTS Program) at the former Tift County Work Camp. Rev. Osborne also served as the State Chaplain of Prison Ministries of the UPCI, which is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. He worked for the Tift County Board of Education as a school bus driver for 14 years.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Statham Osborne of Ashburn, whom he married on June 13, 1959; a son and daughter-in-law; Lt. Col. (ret.) Travis W. and Kathleen Osborne of San Antonio, TX; 3 daughters and sons-in-law: Leigh and Rev. Gerald Folds of Rockmart, Rhonda and Rev. Randy Mathis of Cordele and Elaine and Rev. Paul Mathis of Orangeburg, SC; 4 brothers and sisters-in-law: Ray and Nancy Osborne of Chatsworth, Herman and Jackie Osborne of Port St. Lucie, FL, Frank and Louise Osborne of Cave Springs and Bobby and Rhetta Osborne of Loganville; 5 sisters and 4 brothers-in-law: Mary Belle and James Peterson of Savannah, Sarah and Melvin Singletary of Nashville, Ann and L.D. Duran of Nashville, Dorothy Randall of Lakeland and Martha and Paul Howard of Chatsworth; 9 grandchildren: Linda Osborne and Robert E. Osborne of San Antonio, TX, Craig Folds and wife Jamie of Rockmart, Dawn Payne and husband Toby of Acworth, Anna Folds of Rockmart, David Mathis and Amanda Mathis of Cordele, and Timothy Mathis and Stephanie Mathis of Orangeburg, SC; 2 great grandchildren: Tanner and Brookelynn Folds of Rockmart and many nieces and nephews.
Rev. Osborne loved people, especially his family. He enjoyed traveling, fishing and gardening.