Bob Burroughs

Born on March 10, 1937, in Tazewell, VA, Bob was the beloved son of Lloyd and Ethel Burroughs. He grew up in Tazewell and attended Tazewell High School. After graduating, Bob attended Mars Hill Junior College in Mars Hill, NC, then transferred to Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK. Bob then attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he studied music theory and composition and prepared for a career that combined faith, education, and music.

Bob married the love of his life, the late Esther Ruth Milligan, on August 28, 1958. They were married for 66 years and built a beautiful life centered on family, faith, and friendship.

For more than sixty years, Burroughs served the church through music. He served as Minister of Music at First Baptist in Lindsay, OK, and First Baptist in Abilene, TX. He later helped train future musicians as a faculty member at Samford University, Birmingham, AL; Mercer University, Atlanta, GA; and Palm Beach Atlantic University, where he served as Composer-in-Residence and Associate Professor of Theory and Composition. He is perhaps most warmly remembered at Samford as the dynamic Director of the "Hear and Now Singers" in the mid-1970s, a vocal ensemble that brought fresh, vibrant, and innovative expressions of faith to the student body and surrounding churches.

In addition to his teaching and church work, Burroughs served eight years as Director of the Church Music Department for the Florida Baptist Convention, helping guide and encourage church music programs statewide.

A prolific composer, Burroughs wrote more than 2,000 published works, including choral anthems, hymn arrangements, and music for handbell choirs. His compositions—such as “Jesus, My Lord, My Life, My All,” “More Love to Thee,” and “Lord, Make Our Homes”—were widely performed by church choirs and became beloved repertoire in many congregations.

Beyond his published works, Burroughs was known as a clinician, conductor, and mentor, frequently leading choral festivals and workshops and encouraging the development of church music programs, particularly those involving children and youth choirs. He believed deeply that training young musicians was essential to the future of church music. He wrote three books to help future church leaders. In his book What Think Ye: Essays for 21st Century Leaders, Pastors, and Church Musicians, he says this: “God is in the details. This Holy God, our Redeemer, Creator of the Universe… deserves excellence in everything we do, say, and conduct.”

Above all, Bob treasured time spent with family and friends. His family will forever cherish the time they shared and the countless memories that will be held for generations. Bob is survived by his daughter, Melody Burroughs Reid (Will) and their daughters Anna Reid Bowling (Brad), Caroline Smith Reid (Matt), and Frances Reid Twomey (Mike); and his son David Lloyd Burroughs (Colleen), and their children Milligan Burroughs Hall (Jonathan) and Walker Lloyd Burroughs (Hanna); and his four great-grandchildren, Helen Bowling, Reid Bowling, Wilder Twomey and Ward Donaldson.

Bob Burroughs leaves behind a lasting musical legacy—thousands of compositions, generations of students and church musicians, and countless congregations who have lifted their voices using the music he lovingly created.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, in the coming months.

In lieu of flowers, Bob requested that any memorial contributions be made to Passport Ministries at https://passportcamps.org/give/

Bob will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.