B-CC MOURNS THE LOSS OF FORMER CHAPLAIN ROGERS P. FAIR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Handpicked by Bethune-Cookman College founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune to be the first College chaplain, the Reverend Rogers P. Fair Sr. passed away Monday, March 29, 2004. He was 88.

For 47 years, Rev. Fair served as the campus’ spiritual advisor until his retirement in 1994.

REV. ROGERS P. FAIR

“The passing of Dr. Fair brings much sadness to our hearts,’’ said B-CC President Dr. Oswald P. Bronson, Sr. “The College community remains very grateful for his tenure at Bethune-Cookman College and for the thousands of students who were touched by his ministry. His legacy will live at Bethune-Cookman College as long as the College exists.’’

Rev. Fair came to Daytona Beach in 1947 after the Methodist Church transferred him from South Carolina to serve as pastor of Stewart Memorial Church and B-CC. Though he retired from the Florida Conference in 1986, Fair continued to serve at B-CC. His 47-year tenure was among the longest in the United Methodist Church.

“He was one of the most outgoing men you could meet,’’ said Dr. James Huger. “After church and family, his goal was to direct as many people as possible to Jesus Christ. Believe it or not, he was successful. He will live on in their lives as a shining example of one who tried to help his fellow man. I will certainly miss him.’’

He was listed in “Who’s Who Among American Clergymen 1973-89,’’ received more than 200 citations and honors throughout his career, including a 1991 award by the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministries of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church for Rare and Most Distinguished Service to Christian Higher Education and Campus Ministries. 

Colleagues of Rev. Fair will remember him for his positive outlook and keen sense of humor.

“He would start my day off with humor,’’ said Clarence Childs, B-CC Vice-President for Student Affairs. “He had the ability to make people laugh. I can’t think of anybody he couldn’t get to laugh.”

Rev. Fair graduated from Clark-Atlanta in 1946. He later attended Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta and was awarded the Master of Arts degree in Sociology in 1949.

He is survived by his wife, the former Agnes Motley, two children – Dr. Rogers P. Fair, Jr., El Paso, Tex. and Mattie Julia Fair-Murphy, Daytona Beach -  and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, April 5 in Heyn Memorial Chapel at 11 a.m. on the B-CC campus. Gainous Funeral Home, 804 Dr.  Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd., Daytona Beach, is in charge.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Rev. Dr. Rogers P. Fair, Sr.  Scholarship Fund care of the Bethune-Cookman College Office of College Advancement, 640 Dr. Mary Bethune Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL, 32114. Call (386) 481-2950 for more information.  

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Bethune-Cookman is a comprehensive college, which offers degrees in liberal arts as well as professional fields, such as business, education and nursing. A United Methodist Church-affiliated school, the College has a diverse and international student population of more than 2,700 and a solid reputation for academic excellence and community service. As evidence of its outstanding program, the College has been listed in the Templeton Honor Roll of Character Building Colleges and Universities, and it was ranked by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the “Top 50” schools in the nation for black students.  B-CC is one of 10 charter member colleges of Project Pericles, a program to create civic leadership and involvement on its member campuses.  The College will celebrate its 100^th year of founding on October 4, 2004.

For more information, contact our website www.bethune.cookman.edu. 

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