Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.
-1 Corinthians 7:17
†WHERE INDICATED PLEASE STAND
MODERATOR PART I: EVANGELIST ANGELA DYER
QUIET MOMENTS
MUSICAL PRELUDE THE OPENING
ThehouroftheHomegoingCelebrationhascome OLord,hearourprayersandacceptourmeditation Asweglorifythyname.Amen
†THEPROCESSIONAL
The Bishops
The Administrative Assistants District Superintendents
Pastors Elders
THE SEALING OF THE BIER……………………………………………….............The Jurisdictional Chief Adjutant
†THE HYMN OF COMFORT………………………………..TGNHE Jurisdictional Choir and Congregation At the Cross
†INVOCATION…………………………………………………………………….......................... The Reverend Henry Young Pastor, Restoration Worship Center COGIC
†THE OLD TESTAMENT………………….....Isaiah 40: 28-31……………………....... The Reverend Roy Owens
Pastor, Walthall Chapel COGIC
†THE NEW TESTAMENT…………………...I Corinthians 15:51-58……………..… The Reverend Marcus Hill Associate Minister, Mt. Sinai COGIC
†THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH…………………………………………………............. The Reverend Destry Ward Pastor, New Beginnings COGIC
MUSICAL SELECTION…………………………………………………………...................... TGNHE Jurisdictional Choir
THE PRAYER OF COMFORT…………………………………………………………….................... Mother Lela Madison
1st Assistant Jurisdictional Supervisor
RESOLUTIONS………………………………………………………………………..............................Evangelist Sandra Reese
2nd Assistant Jurisdictional Supervisor
JURISDICTIONAL DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN EXPRESSIONS………………… Mother Valery White Supervisor of Women, Greater New Hampshire Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
MODERATOR PART II: THE REVEREND JEROME HALL PASTOR, ABUNDANT LIFE MINISTRIES COGIC
MUSICAL SELECTION………………………………………………………......................……TGNHE Jurisdictional Choir
REFLECTIONS……………………………………………....………......…….................Please limit remarks to 2 minutes
Local Tributes
Mother Gladys Waye ▪ Evangelist LaTonya Hazard ▪ The Reverend Phillip Jones
Jurisdictional Tributes
Evangelist Shirley Watkins ▪ Mother Gloria Johnson Evangelist Crystal Hughes ▪ District Missionary Juanita Hall
Representatives
Administrative Assistant………………………………………………….................... The Reverend Andrew Daniels 1st Administrative Assistant Superintendents…………………………….......................….………………………….The Reverend Dwayne Wheeler Pastor, Greater Deliverance Temple COGIC
Pastors………………………………………………………………...….................................…The Reverend Reginald Smith Pastor, True Vine COGIC Elders……………………………......................................……………………………………………...The Reverend Ras Hazard Associate Minister, Mt. Sinai COGIC District Missionaries………………………………………................…………District Missionary Charlene Forbes Rehoboth District COGIC
The Webbs Family……………………………………………....................………..The Reverend Robert L. Webbs, II Assistant Pastor, Mt Sinai COGIC and Pastor, New Horizon COGIC
Ecumenical and Ecclesiastical Tributes …………………....….………….…Visiting Bishops and Ministers
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF CARD, TELEGRAMS, CONDOLENCES & OBITUARY Dr Sharina Person
MUSICAL SELECTION…………………………………………………………….....................TGNHE Jurisdictional Choir
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE HOMILIST…………………….....………………..…The Reverend Jerome Hall
THE SERMONIC SOLO/SELECTION…………………………….........………………….Evangelist Katrina Walker President of the Department of Music
THE WORDS OF COMFORT…………...…....………………………….The Right Reverend Dr. Bernard Reese Auxiliary Bishop, Greater New Hampshire Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
†THE RECESSIONAL MUSICAL POSTLUDE
BISHOP ROBERT L. WEBBS, SR.
JULY 10, 1936 - APRIL 20, 2023
Bishop Robert L. Webbs, Sr. had a divine calling, reminiscent of early Church of God in Christ pioneers, of bringing souls to Christ in areas less traveled by others in the church-hood, and often in places in New England where there are no other COGIC churches. One of those main areas being the Granite State of New Hampshire, where there previously had not been any COGIC churches in 40 years.
He was born on July 10, 1936, in Oakridge, Louisiana to the late Timothy J. Wells and Lula B. Williams. Bishop Webbs was a third-generation, life-long member of the Church of God in Christ. Bishop Webbs moved to Springfield, Massachusetts in 1953, during the Great Migration.
Bishop Webbs’ spiritual life began in May of 1954, when he was baptized with the Holy Spirit. In June of 1954, God called Bishop Webbs to preach. In 1956, Bishop Webbs married First Lady, Evangelist Lola B. Webbs. He was licensed as a minister in 1957, and ordained as an elder in 1958, under the late Bishop Bryant Robinson, Sr., Prelate of the former Western Jurisdiction of Massachusetts, were he worked faithfully and diligently for many years. Bishop Webbs served this country when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1958.
From 1967 to 2001, Bishop Webbs earned distinction throughout the COGIC community in New England as being a skilled administrator. From 1965 to 1967, he served under Bishop L.C. Young on the State Finance Committee, and he was also the Assistant State Sunday School Superintendent. When the former Western Jurisdiction was created and Bishop Robinson, Sr. became a Jurisdictional Bishop, Bishop Webbs re-aligned with him in 1967, and served as the Finance Chairman, District Superintendent and Chairman of the Elders Council. He loyally and steadfastly fulfilled these roles until Bishop Robinson’s death in 2001.
Bishop Webbs first started to be known as a church pioneer in 1965, when he founded Mt. Sinai Church of God in Christ in Worcester, MA, the second largest city in the state. Previously, no COGIC church had existed in Worcester for 10 to 15 years. Today, Mt. Sinai is still on record as being the oldest and first successful COGIC church in Worcester. In 1978, Bishop Webbs founded Mt. Sinai COGIC-2 in Framingham, MA; once again, establishing a church where no other COGIC church had existed.
In 2001, reaching higher heights and deeper depths in the Lord, God placed it on Bishop Webbs’ heart to do a work in New England, particularly in New Hampshire, which was last presided over by the late Bishop John P. Morgan, Sr., who was the Prelate of the former Massachusetts #2 Jurisdiction and New Hampshire until his death in 2001. The Greater New Hampshire Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction was establishedin November 2001, when Bishop Webbs was recommended by Bishop P.A. Brooks to the late Bishop G.E. Patterson and the General Board; they recommended him to the General Assembly at the Holy Convocation in Memphis, TN, where he was approved to become the Prelate of the new jurisdiction. On April 30, 2002, he was consecrated and installed as the Jurisdictional Prelate.
As prelate of The Greater New Hampshire Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Bishop Webbs oversaw the opening of four churches in New Hampshire: Concord, Portsmouth, Manchester, and Nashua; thus, placing the Church of God in Christ alongside other major Pentecostal religions in the state. Bishop Webbs has also opened other churches in Massachusetts, where no COGIC churches had presently existed: Lowell, Lawrence, and New Bedford (the first in that city).
Bishop Webbs extended his pastoral pioneering beyond our national boarders from 2000 to 2003, when he opened a church in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with the same Godly mandate of bringing souls to Christ in areas less traveled by others in the church-hood. His concern for souls went further than the United States and Canada. Throughout the years, under Bishop Webbs’ direction, Mt. Sinai has supported mission efforts in India, South Africa, and Haiti where the church formerly operated an orphanage for twenty-three girls in Port-au-Prince for 21 years. Bishop Webbs was still overseeing ongoing mission efforts in Cuba up until the time of his transition.
Bishop Webbs currently holds membership with the Black Ministers Alliance of Worcester and the council of churches for the Worcester area. He also served as a member of the NAACP Worcester Chapter.
Bishop Webbs transitioned on April 20th, 2023. He is survived by his wife and spiritual partner of 66 years, First Lady Evangelist Lola B. Webbs, son Pastor Robert L Webbs Jr. (daughter-in-love Jacqueline Webbs); daughter Sheryl Y. Webbs; daughter Robin M. Montalvo (son-in-love Rafael Montalvo); four grandchildren—Robert III, Chrysta, Corynne and Jordan; and two great-grandchildren, Estil and Javier. Bishop Webbs also leaves many cousins, nephews, and nieces whom he loved dearly.
Throughout his ministry, Bishop Webbs has mentored, encouraged, nurtured, and inspired a new generation of COGIC pioneers. His charge in spreading the gospel can be seen through his commitment in community outreach through supporting local shelters, providing community breakfast, annual cookouts, and creating academic scholarships for those in need to mention a few. His love for winning souls has touched the lives of many throughout his lifetime of service. He has made an impact for the Kingdom of God that will continue for generations.
Pallbearers
Jurisdictional Adjutancy
Superintendents
Pastors
Elders
Flower Bearers
Friends of the Family
Final Arrangements Entrusted to: O’Connor Brothers Funeral Home 592 Park Avenue
Worcester, MA 01603 508-754-2431
www.oconnorbrothers.com
Interment
Hope Cemetery
119 Webster Street
Worcester, MA 01603
Acknowledgements
The family of the late Bishop Robert L. Webbs wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the many comforting messages, floral tributes, prayers, and other expressions of kindness and concern evidenced in thought and deed.
