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Born: November 24, 1909
Died: April 29, 2007
Roberson, Dr. Lee Edward
Renowned Minister, Founder Of Tennessee Temple Schools posted April 29, 2007
Dr. Lee Roberson | Dr. Lee Edward
Roberson, 97, of Chattanooga died Sunday, April 29, 2007. He was born Nov. 24, 1909, in English, In., and grew up
in Louisville, Ky. Dr. Roberson was a graduate of the University of Louisville and attended Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville.
He pastored several churches in Tennessee and Alabama before coming to Chattanooga in 1942 to pastor Highland Park Baptist
Church. While at Highland Park Baptist Church he founded Tennessee Temple University in 1946, Temple Baptist Seminary,
Tennessee Temple Academy, Camp Joy, the Union Gospel Mission, Zion College, World Wide Faith Missions and WDYN – FM
Radio Station. After his retirement in 1983 from Highland Park Baptist Church, he traveled extensively preaching across
America. He was preceded in death by his wife, Caroline Allen Roberson, and an infant daughter, Joy Caroline Roberson.
He is survived by his four children, John Roberson of Florence, Ky., Lee Anne Nichols of Chattanooga, June Ormesher
of Dallas, Tx., and Patty Davis of Phoenix, Az.; ten grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one sister, Darlene Munafo of
St. Petersburg, Fl.; several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Highland Park
Baptist Church. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. His body will lie in state from 12-1 p.m. Thursday at the church.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory
and Florist, 404 South Moore Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lee Roberson Foundation,
2327 Red Tail Lane, Chattanooga, Tn., 37421.
A Tribute to Dr. Lee Roberson
Dr. Roberson came and preached over 100 sermons at the First Baptist Church and its ministries. I had the privilege
of being part of the team that honored him and his wife each and every time they came to the college.
We produced over 70 programs in his honor. Using themes such as "Beacon of Fundamentalism (lighthouse theme)," "A Monumental
Man," "Roberson Day Parade," and "A Founding Father of Fundamentalism;" never one time repeating any.
Below is a script used from one of these programs. After this particular presentation, Mrs. Roberson asked for a copy of
this script to take back with her.
Dr. Roberson is revered here for his strong stand for independent fundamentalism and his consistent, unswerving faith in
God.
By Dan Wolfe
Sailing by Faith Through Uncharted Waters
When one thinks of great explorers,
Christopher Columbus often comes to mind. This man, who was born to poor workers of wool, had little education and was thought
by critics to be ill-equipped to successfully navigate the ocean. However, Columbus had a goal. His goal was to find a shorter
route to the Indies. Even though there were many ordeals which arose to discourage him from his goal, he courageously continued
in his attempts to reach his goal.
On his first voyage, Columbus’ ship was sunk by pirates off the coast of Portugal, and Columbus himself was forced
to swim to shore clinging only to a loose oar from one of the life rafts. This incident helped to solidify Columbus’
resolve to find a new route to the Indies.
In 1483, Columbus confidently brought his plans before King John of Portugal only to have them carelessly rejected. Instead
of giving up, Columbus’ never-dying determination led him to take his plans to the rulers of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella.
Their majesties rejected his plans twice before his persistence paid off; Ferdinand and Isabella finally accepted his proposition
upon the third presentation of his plan. Another discouragement was yet to come, though. In the midst of receiving the finances
needed for the voyage, he lost his wife and his only son to death.
Columbus finally set sail with his three-ship fleet – the Niņa, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria – never imagining
that this voyage would greatly test his judgment, tenacity, diplomacy, and navigational skills. The voyage which ultimately
took 33 days to sail carried supplies for only 21 days of travel. His crew often begged him to turn back, and they occasionally
threatened him with mutiny. Above all these circumstances, Columbus allowed his compass to guide him claiming that “the
compass always seeks the truth.” Finally on October 12, 1492, the cry of, “Land, Ho!” was heard from among
the rigging, and the Americas were discovered.
Because Columbus refused to allow trials to stop him, we will forever owe him a debt of gratitude for the wonderful land
in which we live: America.
500 years ago, one man dared to do what few men ever dared to dream – and the world was changed forever.
There is another great explorer who later came on the scene seeking to find new ways to do greater deeds for the glory
of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. That great captain is Dr. Lee Roberson. He also faced great obstacles in order to gain
his goals. One of the first storms he would face was the storm of the temptation to become a great singer in secular music.
Dr. Roberson refused to let his ship veer to the port or to the starboard. He kept himself on a straight course toward his
Lord’s will.
Dr. Roberson continued on to Pastor two country churches, and was thought by critics to be ill-equipped
to build a church of any larger proportions beyond the ones he had Pastored. He then proceeded to Pastor the great Highland
Park Baptist Church of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in a place thought to be impossible to build a church because of the poorness
of the downtown area. While there, Dr. Roberson faced the criticism of running what has become the great Life Raft of Fundamentalism:
the Bus Ministry.
Another storm Dr. Roberson faced occurred while he was away at a preaching engagement. Upon calling him home, he found
out from his wife the tragic news that his daughter Joy had died. Instead of letting this disappointment stop him, Dr. Roberson
used this tragedy to expand his ministry by starting a camp which he named in memory of his daughter: Camp Joy.
Like Columbus, Dr. Lee Roberson has a Compass. That Compass not only seeks the truth, but it also is the Truth: the Word
of God. He refused to quit, and by faith he has endured for over 70 years to steer countless lives to Christ. Christopher
Columbus may have discovered America, but Dr. Lee Roberson has been used of God to save it.
He too dared to do what few men have dared to dream – And Fundamentalism was changed forever.
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