By Dianne Anderson

Churches everywhere saw a lot of turnover and downsizing through recent times, but folks that came in under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Robert L. Fairley have stayed for the long haul.

Many came and remained from when he first took the helm of the pulpit, and the second time around back by popular request. He ushered in two generations to the New Hope Missionary Baptist church body in San Bernardino.

“I would say 70-80% stayed there while he was there and even after he retired,” said his daughter, Lori Ann Fairley-Green.

She attributes her father’s success to how he genuinely loved the people he pastored, encouraging them to look outside of themselves, and think of new ways to positively impact the community. Several church members went on to win city council seats and assume various leadership positions, including community based social clubs, like the Socialites and Links.

Dr. Robert L. Fairley passed away last week. He was 83.

Higher education was one of her father’s other primary passions.

Pastor Emeritus Dr. Robert L. Fairley

Under his leadership, many former and current church members are school principals with their master’s and doctorates. He felt that education could open the doors wider in community, family and church.

“He always pushed and believed in education, to realize you’re going to impact people for the Kingdom through your own knowledge, wisdom and  expertise, and God will give you that avenue in the proper time even in these positions,” said Mrs. Fairley-Green.

Much of Dr. Fairley’s early years of community dedication spilled over to his approach as pastor. He was a social worker, served briefly as a probation officer, and worked at the Veterans Administration.

When he was 13 years old, his father passed away. As the oldest son, he took odd jobs to help his mother and siblings, and by 14, he upped his age to enlist in the Navy to support the family.

On the pastoral journey, Dr. Fairley’s grandparents played a major role. He was a third generation gospel preacher. His dad, and later his mom, were also both ministers.

After serving in the military, he was instrumental in bringing all his siblings from Hattiesburg, Mississippi to California, where he was discharged.

“He made a lot of sacrifices,” she said. “I think it’s amazing, at age 14 I would have never mentally or physically thought I could handle going into the military. And, he literally sent home his entire check to his mom.”

Senior Pastor Dr. Michael Andrew Owens took his post at the church about six years ago after Dr. Fairley retired, then named Pastor Emeritus.

Pastor Owens said Dr. Fairley represents the true heart of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.

“During my time it was clear that the fruit of his doing was in the people’s heart to want to give to the community, to be missionary and evangelistic at its core and the kind of hospitality and warmth he demonstrated,” he said.

Pastor Fairley’s service has left an indelible mark on a couple of generations, he said.

“It was long enough to watch babies grow up to become young adults, and the young adults to become seniors. His stamp is still here and his impact is still very real. We are in one accord, of both mourning and celebration because the loss is heavy, but the joy is equally as strong, if not more,” he said.

Long-time neighbor and community advocate, Beverly Jones Wright said he will be remembered as a loving, giving person, down to earth with an enormous personality.

He was a major supporter of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast, and he purchased New Hope Family Life Center on Highland with a great vision to serve the community. He was also big on Black History Month education to empower youth and adults.

He helped address conflict and issues in the community, and also provided marriage classes to help couples and families work out their differences to stay together.

He was respected as a leader among the pastors.

“If they wanted help or counseling with certain problems in their congregation and community, they would seek out Dr. Fairley’s advice on how to best handle the situation,” she said.

Dr. Fairley served on the San Bernardino Boys and Girls Club board and helped start the Boys and Girls Scout troops at the church.

After her mother passed away, she moved next door to Pastor Fairley over four decades ago. He brought food, encouragement, and invited her to the church, and, not long after, became the godfather of her son, Chache Wright, president of the local branch of the NAACP.

“Most definitely, he was a valiant individual. You won’t find a replica of him anywhere,” she said. “I don’t think there will be another pastor in the universe that can mimic Dr. Fairley because he was by far the best.”

Carolyn Tillman joined New Hope in 1990, and said Pastor Fairley understood Bible and spiritual knowledge, and the full scope of the Word.

Dr. Fairley served five years ending in 1983 as Pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. From 1983 to 1997 he served as Pastor of St. John Baptist Church in East Palo Alto, where he started as assistant pastor in 1962. He returned in 1997 to New Hope in San Bernardino where he served another 12 years before retiring.

She said that he knew people by name, and had great skills in counseling, preaching, teaching, and the emotional intelligence of a caregiver.

“He wasn’t a distant person, he was very welcoming and warm, his signature was to hug and he gave hugs to everyone, everyone received him, like a father would hug,” she said.

He also loved to travel, and made it available through a travel ministry that carried members, herself included, to Europe and the Holy Land.

His sense of humor kept everyone laughing, she said, and that he and his wife, First Lady Mary Fairley, were an excellent balance as a couple. Everyone felt proud to be members of the church.

Tillman said he gave his all to the ministry, and all who listened to his message now know the way.

“Like any good parent would do, [saying] ‘I’m not going to be here forever, here’s how to keep going and continue to conduct your lives.’ I feel like I’m well equipped. I’m very hopeful I’ll see him again and with him on a different plane,” she said.

Locally, there is no memorial, but many members will attend services in Northern California where he resided. For more information, contact info@newhopembc.org