Obituary of Rev. Robert Vess Dodd

Rev. Robert Vess Dodd was born on November 12^th, 1945 in Shelby, NC to the late Waudell Barnett and Alice Opal Vess Dodd. He had one sister, the late, Rebecca Dodd McClure. He passed away on June 1^st, 2018. He resided in Matthews, NC for the last 16 years of his life with his wife and son, Aaron.  Robert was a pastor for 31 years in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and served nine churches from Cashiers to Gibsonville. Robert completed his undergraduate studies at Gardner-Webb & High Point University and his Master of Divinity at Candler School of Theology & Duke Divinity School.

Robert was a beloved preacher, teacher, husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend, as well as a prolific writer. He is the award winning internationally published author of over twenty books, booklets, and tracts, as well as writing for the Carolina Christian Advocate for over ten years, regularly contributing to Cokesbury’s Daily Bible Study, Adult Bible Study, Mature Years, and Circuit Rider publications, as well as the Upper Room’s Disciplines. He taught Sunday School at the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of the Methodist Church for 21 years. He received numerous awards for his work including an Angel Award for his book, Helping Children Cope with Death, in 1985 as well as the Sermon Challenge Award from the Institute on Homiletical Studies of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. Robert had a passion for the church, an interest in people of all ages, stages, and circumstances, a contagious enthusiasm for serving the Lord Jesus Christ and a passion for prayer. He kept a prayer list and regularly prayed for hundreds of people.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Ann Armstrong Dodd, his sons, Aaron Dodd, and Justin Dodd & wife Katie of Charlotte, NC, his honorary children: Luma Osmani and her husband Arsim Marke of Pompano Beach, Florida; Drita Osmani, Burim & Nimete Osmani, Aferdita & Bujar Rama, Sara Osmani, and his honorary grand-children, Dior & Donick Rama, and Ari Osmani, all in Charlotte, his nieces: Wanda McClure Granger & her husband Richard of Florence, SC, Debra McClure Heise & her husband Joe of Mooresville, Robyn McClure Hoppe & her husband Allan, of Charlotte and their families.

A celebration of life service will be held at Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 9^th at 1:00 pm with a reception following. A family graveside service at Cleveland Memorial Park in Shelby is scheduled for earlier in the week.

Memorials may be directed to Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church Youth Ministry Fund in Charlotte, NC.