robert lee arrington
1938-1995
Life Story
A Life of Steadfast Faith and Family Roots in the Altare Community
Early Life and Family Heritage
Robert Lee Arrington was born on June 15, 1938, in Newton County, Mississippi, to Herbert Arrington (1914–1982) and Margie Mae Jordan Arrington (1918–1991). Raised in the Altare Community, Robert’s childhood reflected the essence of southern rural life — hard work, family unity, and devotion to faith. His parents instilled in him strong moral values and a deep respect for community, qualities that became hallmarks of his character.
By 1950, Robert was living with his parents and siblings on Newton Calhoun Road, in a household filled with laughter, shared labor, and the steady rhythm of farm life. The Arrington family was known for its deep ties to the Altare Missionary Baptist Church, a central institution that provided both spiritual guidance and social fellowship for generations.
Character and Community Life
Growing up among family members who valued service and faith, Robert carried forward the Arrington tradition of humility and dependability. Whether in the fields or among neighbors, he was known for his quiet strength and willingness to lend a helping hand. His upbringing in Altare fostered a strong sense of identity and belonging — a connection to the land, the church, and the people who formed the heart of the community.
Although little is recorded about his formal education or occupation, Robert’s life was a reflection of the values that defined his generation: perseverance in the face of adversity, commitment to family, and a humble faith that anchored him through life’s joys and challenges.
Passing and Legacy
Robert passed away on March 17, 1995, at the age of 56, leaving behind a legacy of love and resilience. He was laid to rest in the Altare Missionary Baptist Church graveyard, surrounded by the generations of family whose lives helped shape the community’s story.
His burial at Altare — among parents, siblings, and ancestors — symbolizes the enduring bonds of family and faith that connected the Arrington lineage across time. Robert’s memory lives on in the hearts of relatives and friends who continue to honor his gentle spirit and the quiet dignity with which he lived his life.
Sidebar: The Heritage of Faith and Family
Robert Lee Arrington’s life reflects the deep continuity of the Arrington family legacy — a lineage marked by faith, community involvement, and a steadfast commitment to family. Descended from Henry and Isabella Walker Arrington, whose children helped shape the spiritual and civic life of Altare, Robert represented the later generations who carried that tradition into the modern era.
His final resting place in the Altare Church Cemetery is more than a burial site — it is a circle of history, where past and present meet in remembrance. The fields and red clay roads of Altare still echo with the lives of families like Robert’s, whose simple acts of faith and love built the foundation of an enduring community.
Family Connection Sidebar: The Lineage of Robert Lee Arrington
Ancestral Lineage
1. Robert Lee Arrington (1938–1995)
Born in Newton County, Mississippi. Son of Herbert Arrington (1914–1982) and Margie Mae Jordan Arrington (1918–1991). Raised in the Altare Community and laid to rest at Altare Missionary Baptist Church.
2. Herbert Arrington (1914–1982)
A lifelong farmer and community leader who worked the fields of Newton County and raised nine children with his wife, Margie Mae Jordan. Herbert embodied the Arrington family’s enduring values of faith, family, and service.
3. Henry H. Arrington (1891–1988) and Isabella Walker Arrington (1895–1961)
Pillars of the Altare Missionary Baptist Church, they were central figures in the early 20th-century Altare community. Henry served as clerk, trustee, and Sunday school teacher, while Isabella led the Home Mission Society and participated in the Eastern Star. Together they cultivated both farmland and faith, leaving behind 13 children and a legacy of leadership.
4. Burrell Arrington (1854–?) and Angeline Chapman (1864–?)
Among the founding families of the Altare settlement. Their children—including Henry, Bairl, and Ambus—helped shape the early Black farming community that grew around Altare Baptist Church after Reconstruction. Their home was a place of prayer, education, and self-sufficiency.
5. Early Arrington Patriarchs (likely Charles Arrington, b. ca. 1815)
Part of the first generation of Arringtons documented in Newton County after emancipation. This early line, through Charles and Frances Arrington, established the roots from which later generations would rise—transforming from tenant farmers into landowners and civic leaders.
Family Heritage Summary
From Charles Arrington’s first homestead in the late 1800s to the family farms that still line the Newton–Calhoun Road, Robert Lee Arrington’s lineage embodies more than a century of perseverance. Each generation carried forward the faith, resilience, and unity that define the Altare story — a story of transformation, endurance, and love passed down through the Arrington–Walker–Evans lines.
Resting Place
Altare Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
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