Rev. Robert Thomas Heard

Rev. Robert Thomas Heard, 73, of Salisbury, NC went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. Born June 22, 1938 in Meriden, CT, he was the son of the late John T. and Dorothy Parenteau Heard. Robert was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, TX, Baylor University in Waco, TX and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. Ordained to the gospel ministry Rev. Heard served as associate pastor of his home church, Gaston Avenue Baptist Church, Dallas, TX; pastor of Warsaw Baptist Church, Warsaw, VA; First Baptist Church, Danville, VA; Milford Hills Baptist Church, Salisbury, NC; Oakdale Baptist Church, Spencer, NC; and Stallings Memorial Baptist Church, Salisbury, NC retiring in June 2007. He was presently a member of Salisbury First Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent. Seeing the great need for families in Rowan County, Rev. Heard and two fellow ministers established the Crisis Assistance Network which later developed into the present Rowan Helping Ministries. He served on the executive committee for the NC State Baptist Convention. He was past President of the Rowan Ministerial Association and past president of Rowan Baptist ministerial Assoc. and a past moderator for the Rowan Baptist Assoc.. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Ann Toney Heard whom he married June 7, 1980, one son David Heard of Danville, VA, one daughter Susan Heard of Joplin MO, two grand children Elizabeth and Matthew Trexler of Joplin, MO, mother-in-law Margaret Toney of Salisbury, sister Cathy H. Cox, of Denton, TX, two brothers John Heard (Nancy) of East Lyme, CT, Peter Heard (Judi) of Falmouth Cape Cod, MA, and two nieces and 3 Nephews. A visitation will be held from 6-8:00 PM Friday (Dec. 30) at Summersett Funeral Home in Salisbury The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday (Dec. 31) at First Baptist Church, conducted by Rev. Dr. C. Kenneth Lance and Rev. Dr. John Paul Carter. Graveside services and burial will be conducted at 3:30 PM Saturday at Oak Grove Cemetery in Marion, NC. Memorial may be made to First Baptist Church 223 N. Fulton St. Salisbury, NC 28144, and Rowan Hospice and Palliative Care C/O Rowan County Hospice House, 720 Grove St. Salisbury, NC 28144 Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Heard family. Online condolences may be held at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Rev. Robert Thomas Heard

June 22, 1938 - December 27, 2011