Rev. Rob Roy Staley

Rev. Rob Roy Staley of Rutherfordton, North Carolina transitioned on Thursday, November 28, 2024 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. 

He was born in Polk County, North Carolina on July 7, 1940, to the late Carl Hayes Staley and Viola Carson Staley.   He attended School at Carver High School. Rev. Staley also was an attendee of the Hood Theological Seminary at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.  He joined Zion Grove A. M. E. Zion Church at an early age. He was dedicated and held many positions within Zion Grove A.M.E. Zion church and the Blue Ridge Conference.  Rev. Staley was a member of the Golden Trumpets Quartet of Forest City, North Carolina.

Rev. Staley worked for Yelton Milling Company, Stonecutter Mill, The Tanner-Doncaster Company, and General Fireproofing.  His longest employment was with Rutherford County Schools where he served as the Custodian Supervisor. Rev. Staley worked for Rutherford County schools for a combination of 43 years. Rev. Staley started his employment with Rutherford County schools at New Hope Middle School in 1971 and completed his career at R-S Central High School in 2003. He retired and returned back to work several more years and retired again in 2013.  While employed by the Rutherford County Schools Rev. Staley’s dedication to his job; modeled leadership; the love of people; and the love of God led him to being inducted into the Rutherford County Educational Hall of Fame in 2014.

As an avid farmer, he often planted large crops and raised livestock, not only to feed his family, but to share with whomever he came in contact with.  Rev. Staley exhibited many talents and maintained many positions in his lifetime. He was a husband, father, provider, hunter, farmer, custodian, carpenter, master gardener, community leader, board member, singer, teacher, pastor, adoptive father and grandfather.  Most of all, he was a man of God.

Rev. Staley was a minister and pastor for over 53 years in the Blue Ridge Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church Piedmont District. During his ministry he pastored Stanford Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, Hendersonville, St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church, Forest City, St. John A.M.E. Zion Church, Rutherfordton, Zion Grove A.M.E. Zion Church, Mill Spring and Varick Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, Asheville NC. His declining health caused him to retire from pastoring, but not from preaching.  He spread the word of God by radio every Sunday morning with his last sermon being preached 4 days before his death. 

He leaves to cherish fond memories, his wife of 64 years, Juanita T. Staley. Two sons, Robert H. Staley, Rutherfordton, NC and David Staley, Forest City. NC. One daughter, Terri Staley (Stevie) Palmer, Rutherfordton, NC.  One sister, Ruth (Johnny) Briscoe. Three brothers, Carl (Eloise) Staley, John H. (Martha) Staley, and Earl (Mary) Staley. One brother-in-law, Leonard Maxwell and sister-in-law, Gail Twitty. Seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and many of those who called him Papa. He was preceded in death by his twin brother, Rev. Leroy Staley and two children, W. R. Cassandra Staley and Johnathon “John-Boy” Staley.

Rev. Rob Staley’s life is a testament of a man of God, who lived as an example of what he preached. He was always wearing a smile; never meeting a stranger; and touching the lives of thousands of people.  He leaves a legacy that will endure in the hearts of all who knew him. He will be deeply missed, but we rejoice in knowing, there is no more suffering, and his soul is at peace in the presence of God.

Services will be held at Zion Grove A.M.E. Zion Church on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 2 pm.