Reverend Robert "Bob" Layne Ross Jr.

Born August 3, 1928 in Covington, Kentucky and raised in Atlanta, Bob lived most of his adult life in Birmingham. He received his A.B. degree from Samford University in 1963, a Master of Divinity degree from the School of Theology at Sewanee: University of the South and was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Alabama on April 1, 1967. As an Episcopal priest, he served several congregations, including St. Wilfrid’s, Marion; Holy Cross, Trussville and The Church of the Transfiguration, an experimental “church without walls” which was created to attract other denominations to the Episcopal Church in the late sixties and early seventies. Bob served for twenty years as Corporate Director of Outreach and Continuing Education in the Department of Pastoral Care of the Baptist Health System where he developed new programs in ministry and education. Bob also worked as a consultant in program development for the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama and for several other denominations and business organizations.

Bob led the charge to create a hospice program in Alabama, serving as Director of the first hospice program in the state at Baptist Medical Center, Montclair, which quickly became a model for many other hospice programs in the southeast, and later served on the board and executive committee of the National Hospice Organization when the Hospice Medicare Bill was passed by Congress.

Bob’s greatest professional joys and successes involved the conception and development of the utterly new: Transfiguration, Hospice, The Stewardship of Life Program, The Business Health Care Forum, and various other creative programs for the professional development of parish clergy. He was a masterful preacher and teacher; a voracious reader with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and understanding, and a one-of-a- kind friend to hundreds of colleagues throughout his career. Bob loved woodworking, furniture making, tools and technology of all description. He was an aviation enthusiast, an avid cyclist, bread maker; and he loved and collected jazz music.

Bob had the great good fortune to find and marry the love of his life, Martha Chafin Andrews Ross, in 1998. He and Martha traveled the world, played tennis, entertained, and created a loving and welcoming extended family for all of their children, grandchildren, siblings and friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his father, Robert Layne Ross, Sr. his mother, Ruth Riedel Ross and his brother, Donald Perry Ross (Janice). He is survived by his wife, Martha Ross; by his four children, Robert Layne Ross III (Marie), Susan Ross Schodroski (Larry), Murray Robinson Ross and Frances Ross Nolan (Bill); two beloved stepsons, Johnny Andrews (Lisa) and David Andrews; his grandchildren: Robert Layne Ross IV, Daniel Ross, Kassia and Alina Schodroski, Jonathan Ross (Katie), David Ross (Marisa), William Nolan, Patrick Andrews (Joyce), Mason Andrews, Forrest McMullan (Lynn), Jack and Wynn Andrews; his great grandchildren Braden and Luther Ross, Savannah and Jack Ross, and by countless other relatives and friends who are like family.

A Funeral Service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church in Homewood on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow in the Great Hall. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Oasis Counseling for Women and Children, or to the charity or cause of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com for the Ross family.