Bob Williamson, a longtime Alabama Baptist pastor and missionary to Africa, died July 25. He was 75.
After graduating from Vigor High School in Mobile, Williamson was drafted into the Army during his first year of college and served as a drill sergeant at Fort Benning in Georgia during the Vietnam War.
After he returned to his studies in 1969, he earned a bachelor’s degree in religion from Mobile College (now the University of Mobile) and a master of divinity degree and doctor of ministry degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Williamson served as pastor of Alvord Baptist Church in Alvord, Texas, and Pinedale Baptist Church in Montgomery before he and his wife, Vicki, were appointed as career missionaries with the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) to southern Africa.
After two terms, they returned to Alabama for 15 years. During that time, he served at First Baptist Church, Eclectic, and Moffett Road Baptist Church, Mobile.
In 1996, the Williamsons returned to Africa, where they served until they retired in 2011 with 21 years of total service there.
When they returned, he served as pastor of Mount Hebron East Baptist Church, Eclectic, and helped the church rebuild after a tornado destroyed the facilities.
The couple served in ministry together for 50 years total.
Williamson is survived by his wife of 53 years; daughter, Melissa Ann; son, Robert Nathan; and five grandchildren.
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