Dr. Robert Anderson Joyner

Dr. Robert Anderson Joyner, 85, of Newport, passed away Monday, August 31, 2020, at his home.

His memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2020, at Munden Funeral Home, officiated by Rev. Peter Hipple. Friends are welcome to attend the service. In keeping with the CDC guidelines pertaining to the Coronavirus, those who are ill or at-risk (elderly, immune-compromised) are encouraged to stay home. Additionally, there will be a limit to the number of people in the building at one time, as well, those who attend will be asked to bring and wear a protective mask. Help us honor the family while practicing safe measures. Friends are also encouraged to leave words of comfort to the family through the website.

Robert was born on April 28, 1935, in Ballards Crossroad, North Carolina, to the late Isaac and Pearl Joyner. He was a life-long avid hunter who hunted birds, rabbits, squirrels, deer, and bear.

Robert was led to the Lord at the age of twenty-one by Norman Pollard, a co-worker at DuPont. Robert immediately began to study the Bible and not long after, began to teach the adult Sunday school class at Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, North Carolina. His love for the Lord and desire to help others led him into the Gospel ministry, where he was able to serve, counsel, teach, and touch many lives.

In 1961, at the age of twenty-six, Robert began the ministry of starting and pastoring independent Baptist churches. The first church he started was Shelmerdine Missionary Baptist Church, followed by Community Baptist Church in Ayden and Community Baptist Church in Newport, where he pastored from 1978 until 2007. He also pastored Baptist churches in Snow Hill, Winterville, and Mill Creek. All of which are in Eastern North Carolina.

Robert advanced his education by earning advanced degrees in Theology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Religion (Ph.D.) from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh, Indiana.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah Fitzpatrick of Morehead City; two daughters, Wanda Braxton and husband, Wayne of Farmville, NC and Sharon Hipple and husband, Peter of Greensburg, PA; three sons, John Robert Joyner of Newport, Paul Joyner and wife Dotty of Newport, and Stephen Joyner of Dallas, TX; two step-sons, James Silence of Morehead City and David Silence of Ruther Glen, VA; two brothers, Bryan Joyner and Doug Joyner, both of Greenville, NC; ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, Sarah Spence and husband, Dan and their two children, Petra and Everett, all of Sparks, NV, Seth Hipple of Concord, NH, David Joyner of Millington, TN, Gabriel Hipple of the Northglenn, CO, Faith Bench and husband, Matthew and their two children, Bradyn and Mila, all of Parrish, FL, Jessie Hipple-Rosario and husband, Jiovanni of Herndon, VA, Peter Hipple, Jr. of Santa Ana, CA, Hope Hipple of Pittsburgh, PA, Luke Hipple of Pittsburgh, PA, and Charity Hipple of Greensburg, PA.

In addition to Robert’s parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy Tripp Joyner, to whom he was married 42 years, a sister, Betty Flake, and brother, Edward Joyner.

The family will receive friends following the service on Saturday, September 12. The same safety guidelines will apply.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial can be sent to Subic Bay Children’s Home at 61 Jasmin St., Purok 5 New Cabalan, Olongapo, 2200 Zambales, Philippines, or to Mercy Ships at P.O. Box 1930, Lindale, TX 75771.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory in Morehead City, NC.