Robert Gallatin Paxton

Mr Robert Gallatin Paxton (Galla), 91, went Home to the Lord on Friday, October 7, 2022 at his residence in Santa Rosa Beach, FL.

Galla was born in the Mississippi Delta on 25 August 1931 to Alexander Gallatin Paxton and Ruth Chapman Paxton.  He loved growing up in Greenville. The majority of his childhood and teen years were spent there except in the early 1940s when the family joined his father Gen Paxton at U.S. Army duty stations in Florida, Washington State and California prior to WWII.

Galla graduated from Greenville High School where he played football, basketball and baseball.  His college education was at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA.  When the Korean War began, Galla went on active duty in the U.S. Army for two years and then returned to W & L to finish his degree. After college he joined the U.S. Air Force, training and receiving his AF pilot wings.  For over 10 years he flew C117s and C130s with the Mississippi Air National Guard delivering cargo to bases in Europe and Asia, including supplies to Vietnam during the war.

Galla worked as a businessman in Greenville; first, with his father at AG Paxton Cotton Company.  He then was owner of Baskin Robbins Ice Cream and Forty Love Tennis shop with his beloved wife Renee. He was an active member of First Baptist Church and served the Lord there in a variety of capacities. After retiring in 1995, he and Renee moved to Branson, MO.  There Galla, along with Renee, enjoyed multiple volunteer roles with their church and the community. These included opening their home to missionaries, volunteering at the local hospital, extending hospitality to people in the community, serving with the Gideons, and teaching Bible classes. In 2005, Galla and Renee helped plant the Bridge of Faith Community Church in Rockaway Beach, MO, a community lacking jobs, necessities and resources. Their initial commitment was for one year; however, God’s plan was different: They faithfully served at Bridge of Faith for 13 years.  They touched many lives and were greatly enriched by the people and their time there. In reflection, Galla gratefully acknowledged the goodness of God throughout his long life.

Galla has a deep love for his family and is greatly loved and cherished by them and so many dear friends. Among the many things for which he will be remembered are his generosity, quiet strength, sense of humor, gentleness, devotion to the Lord, hospitality, his focus on things of eternal value, commitment to his country, and his love of vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup.

The most significant event in his life occurred when he was in 4^th grade living in Jacksonville, Florida. During an evening church service, God extended His mercy to young Galla and gave him the gift of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus. This wonderful gift determined the trajectory of the remainder of his life and his eternal destiny.

Surviving Galla are his children Susan (Steve) Hooker of Marietta, Georgia, Galla (Toni) Paxton, Jr. of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, John Paxton of Louisville, Kentucky, Docia (Perry) England of Greenville, Mississippi, and Bob (Laramie Williams) Baker of Charlotte, North Carolina; his grandchildren, Xan Paxton, Kyle (Olivia) Paxton, Dylan Paxton, Elisabeth (Chris) Keating, John Hayden Paxton, Mary Adelyn Paxton, Kate (Nick) Mills, Parker (Frankie) England, Maggie (Nathan) Waters, Austin Baker, Savannah Baker, and Dalton Baker; and great-grandchildren, Gallatin and Maryanne Keating, Mary Wright and Miller England, Myrt and Baker Mills, Baylor and Paxton Waters, coming Dec 2022 Baby Boy Paxton in New Zealand. He was preceded to the Father by his wife, Renee Paxton, his parents, Alexander Gallatin and Ruth Paxton, his sister Mary Burton Glasco, and his stepson Charlie Baker.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Greenville, MS on Tuesday, 11 October 2022.  Visitation begins at 1:00 and the service at 2:00.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Bridge of Faith Community Church, 296 Lake Street, Rockaway Beach, MO 65740.