Robert Lee McGuire

Robert Lee McGuire

January 29, 1946 ~ January 11, 2022 (age 75)

Robert Lee McGuire was called home to the Lord on January 11th, 2022. Robert was born January 29th, 1946 in Whiteville, Tennessee to the late Mary Herron McGuire Neely and Edward “Doc” Murphy McGuire.

His funeral service was held on Saturday January  22, 2022 at 1:00 pm at the Jerome Boyd Chapel at Dixie Funeral Home with Pastor Earnest Polk in charge.  Burial was in the Antioch MB Church Cemetery-Whiteville, Tn and Dixie Funeral Home www.dixiefuneralhome.com was in charge of the professional service

He was the youngest boy of nine siblings of whom the following preceded him in death Noble Lee McGuire (infant), Willie Ray “Doc” McGuire and Willie Neely, and bonus son Taiwan Obey.

He was educated in the Hardeman County Public School and in 1960 graduated from Allen White High School. Robert was a good student and a quick learner. He was affectionately called Big Man, Bob T and Bob T Main. Like many southerners during that time, Robert migrated to the North to seek better opportunities as well as escape the racist culture that prevailed in the south. He joined his sister Rose and brothers Ray Doc, Odell and Uncles James and Ernest Ray as well as dozens of cousins in Queens, New York. He was employed by UFI Services (a linen delivery service for movie stars and wealthy New Yorkers) for eighteen years. Movie stars such as Joan Crawford, Bette Davis and many others would engage in great conversations with Robert during his weekly linen drop off. He received very nice gifts and personalized autograph photos from these movie stars. Robert enjoyed socializing with his family and friends. He was a master story teller and would have people sitting on the edge of their seats in complete awe. In addition, he loved going to the beach to swim in the ocean. He thought he could dance maybe better than Michael Jackson; he loved music and singing along with the records (vinyl) in complete harmony with the great R & B singers of the time. He was a competitive pool player and would enjoy hosting bi-monthly card parties. Robert was a frequent concert goer he loved attending concerts especially at the world famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NY; Al Green, Intruders, Dells, Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions, Chi Lites Four Tops, Spinners, Temptations and the Delfonics he would even inch up to the stage and if they would allow people to sing into the mic Robert would quickly accept. Walking around Manhattan people would stop and ask him if he was a Temptation and he would say yes. He liked playing jokes on people he had a great personality and frankly he could work the room.

In 1968 he met and fell in love with Mary Moore and married two years later and from this union three sons were born, Robert, Dalvin and Christian. Robert’s daughter Bernetta became their bonus older sister and daughter. Robert moved back to Tennessee in 1988 and helped his sister Iola “Bea” to care for their mother and her husband Ernest.

He was employed at Western Mental Health as an Aide and then at Conley & Frost. In 1993 he met Linda Richardson, a loving partner of 29 years, and from this union two sons were born; Ephron, JaKeddrick in addition he was a bonus dad to Natora, Zipporah, Daiwan and Taiwan (deceased).

Robert is survived by his wife Mary McGuire of Atlanta, GA; daughters, Bernetta Taylor-Mc Guire, Bronx, New York; Carol McGuire Cleveland, OH ; sons Robert, Dalvin and Christian McGuire Atlanta GA; Ephron and JaKeddrick McGuire of Bolivar, TN; daughters Natora and Zipporah Richardson; son Daiwan Richardson. Grandchildren Teja, Tyral, Reyn, Rio, Rose, Ryjuan and great grandchildren, three sisters, Rose Hill, Boston Massachusetts; Iola Allen, Memphis, TN; Myrtle Jarrett (Horace), Bolivar, TN; two brothers James Jones, Bolivar , TN; Odell Neely, Queens, New York (Daisy) brother in law Willie Eufaula Al (Mary); Aunts Florence Blaylock, and Pearl Vaught both of Memphis TN; and one Uncle Oscar Murphy Somerville, TN and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and very special friends, Joe Taylor; Dianne William; Jan Barbour; Tommy Watson, Hosea Chris, KarMeko and La Kendra. If Robert could look back and speak with us from his life experiences he may say listen to Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions “KEEP ON PUSHING”.

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