Dr. Robert Fred Trexler, Jr. age 81 died early on Thursday, June 21 in Memphis from complications of a massive heart attack. The former minister of over 60 years is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Charlene Dansby Trexler and their two children, Tamara Joy Trexler-Motley and Stephen Fred Trexler; their spouses Wesley H. Motley III and Camilla Deloach Trexler and grandchildren Ashley, Caleh, Jordan, Morgan and his beloved Collie dog, Dixie. Preceded in death by his infant daughter, Helen Ruth Trexler, his parents, the former Margaret Binford Trexler and Robert Fred Trexler, Sr. Trexler’s grandfather, Lloyd Tilghman Binford was the notorious insurance executive who served as the head of the Memphis Censor Board.
Webster’s definition of a minister is “To help and care for someone.” Dr. Trexler went well beyond Webster’s definition of the word “minister”.
From the campus of Ole Miss to the streets of Memphis, Dr. Trexler approached every person he met to make certain that they were a child of God. Dr. Trexler took the words from Isaiah 6:8 seriously and followed God’s plans for his life.
Isaiah 6:8, “Here am I send me.” Dr. Trexler and his wife Charlene traveled worldwide ministering to people in other countries. Physically fit and athletic, Dr. Trexler studied Karate under esteemed senseis in the Memphis area. Trexler won and placed in various Karate tournaments. He found that martial arts was another way to share the Word with those who did not know Jesus.
Trexler, a graduate of the University of Mississippi and Southwestern University, charted his career as a pastor in several churches in Mississippi and Tennessee. He worked at Lifeway (aka Baptist Sunday School Board) for almost four years before returning to his home town of Memphis. Trexler received his Doctorate of Divinity from Luther Rice Seminary. He led his father Robert Fred Trexler, Sr. Senior Partner with New York Stock Exchange JC Bradford to the Lord during Trexler, Sr’s final years with his son. They studied the Bible together and rejoiced in their new commadorie.
Trexler always gave of his time to various civic organizations such as Kiwanis and Rotary. He served on the Tennessee Governor’s Prayer Breakfast Committee with distinguished colleagues such as Congressman Marsha Blackburn, Mike Arrington, Vice President of Lifeway, fellow pastors along with daughter Tamara. Speakers during Trexler’s service included award winning actress Jennifer O’Neill, former Vice President Dan Quayle, Mayor Andrew Young, actor Clifton Powell and others. Trexler is a life loyal member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
In the last year of his life, Trexler and Dixie were background actors in Oprah Winfrey’s “Greenleaf” television series filmed on the Mississippi River Bank in Memphis. Trexler authored “Jesus His Miracles,” the Christmas book “Night Before Christ,” among others.
In the last week of his life, Trexler again pledged his love and complete devotion to his wife Charlene. The Trexlers met while seniors at Ole Miss. Charlene first noticed Fred when he was being baptized and they met later at the Baptist Student Union. They married almost 60 years ago on August 3, 1958 in Meridian, Mississippi.
Trexler’s final arrangements were handled by Dignity Memorial’s Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Bartlett.
The family asks that memorials be made to Faith Baptist Church’s foreign missions ministry.
Visitation will be held today at Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. Service will be at 2:00 p.m.
