R.G. Lee
Union University recently celebrated its 200th birthday and, as part of that celebration, Union recognized many individuals involved in cultivating Union’s rich Baptist history. One such individual was Robert Greene “R.G.”Lee, who was born in York County, S.C., in 1886.
Though his education was irregular, he managed to learn the basics and earned money to continue his education. He left home to work on the Panama Canal, earning money to attend Furman University where he graduated. While at Furman, he served as pastor of Lima Baptist Church in Travelers Rest, S.C. In 1909, Lee was ordained as a pastor.
In 1918, he was called to pastor in Edgefield, S.C., where he wrote his most famous sermon, Payday Someday. After moving around a bit, Lee finally came to Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis in 1927 where he remained as pastor until 1960. During his tenure at Bellevue, Lee served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
He also served on Union University’s board of trustees from 1941 to 1954. Lee traveled and preached worldwide until he died in 1978. Many of Lee’s sermons and personal artifacts are in the Union University Archives (Huss, John E. Robert G. Lee; the Authorized Biography. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House, 1967).
— Savannah Patterson
Public services librarian
Union University, Jackson
