U.S. Navy Minister Robert Ross of Cordele, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 in the San Antonio Medical Center of San Antonio, Texas. He was a long employee member and retired chaplin of The New Bentley-Carson Memorial Funeral Home of Cordele and Crisp County.

A Memorial Celebration Party will be held 5-9 pm Friday, March 11, 2016 at the Cordele Fair Grounds with family and friends.

Funeral Services will be held on 3:00pm Saturday, March 12, 2016 at A. S. Clark (M.D. Whitest Medical Institute) 401 North 15th Street of Cordele, Georgia. The burial will follow at the Bethel Cemetery with a Full Military Honor Salute.

Visitation hours are as followed: March 11th from 1-6pm at the Funeral Home, March 12th from 9-1pm at the Funeral Home, and 1-3pm at A. S. Clark.

Robert Arlanzo Ross was born August 21, 1968 in Worth County, Georgia to the late John H. Ross and Mary L. (Perry) Bivens. Robert was the youngest of four children born to this union. John and Mary separated when Robert was very young and they each remarried and Robert gained a sibling from each of those unions.

He was educated in the Crisp County School system, graduating in 1986. He remained active with his classmates until he relocated to San Antonio, Texas to be near his sisters. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged on 21 July 1989. One of his proudest moments came when he received Associates Degree in Theology from South Georgia Theological Seminary on May 3, 2014. Because of this accomplishment Robert was bitten by the education bug and he was looking forward to pursuing his Bachelors and even his Doctorate Degree in theology.

He is preceded in death by his father (John), his sister (Beverly Joann Ross) and his grandparents. He was baptized at an early age (5 yrs old) and became a member of the Mount Olive Baptist Church of Warwick, Georgia. In February 2006 Robert accepted his calling to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ an was ordained on June 17, 2007.

Robert was passionate about the word of God and loved sharing the word with everyone he came in contact with for as long as they could stand it. He was known for letting you know that the church is inside every born again believer. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;" But the Lord said to me, too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, "Do not say, 'I am" declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 1:5a, 6­7; NIV) On the evening of March 1, 2016 the Lord called Robert from labor to reward. He traded in his pain for a crown.

Robert's earthly body maybe gone but he leaves behind a host of family and friends to share his story with the world. They include his loving mother Mary and stepfather Leonard Bivens; stepmother Olivia Ross; his only son Branden Arlanzo Ross and granddaughters London, Star'Kasia, Jakaylen, and Kamariah; his big sisters ­ Tanzy (Ross) Dorsey, her husband Joel Dorsey and their children Malachi and Jamilla, Regenia Ross and her children Keisha, Jamy'ro and granddaughter Naomi; his brother Antonio (Tina) Anderson and his son Antwan; his sister Reshawnda Ross and her kids Jamal and Talia. Paternal aunts and uncle: Mattie Bell, Leila, and George Ross , Anna (Willie) Grant, Lillie (James) Stembridge, and Olivia Ann (Eddie) Grant. Maternal aunt and uncles: Corrine (Curtis) Passmore, David (Jerri) Perry, Kenneth Perry, and Harold (Trish) Perry. There are a host of cousins, adopted family members, God children and friends that span the globe, you know who you are and know how special you were to Robert and the family.

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The New Bentley-Carson Memorial Funeral Home of Cordele and Crisp County has charge of the arrangements. Please visit our website for more information www.bentleycarson.com or Like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bentleycarsonmfh