Pastor Robert C. Jointer

One sunny Sunday on April 1, 1951, in the little rural town called Wesson, MS, an 8 lb. 4 oz. bouncing baby boy was entrusted to the care of the late Reverend Burgess Jointer and the late Jessie Lee Jones Jointer. Robert Charles Jointer was the first son born into a family of four girls.  He was number five of fifteen children.

Pastor Jointer spent his childhood and grew into adulthood in the Little Rock community of Wesson, MS.  He was very charismatic. His kind, compassionate and loving demeanor earned him favor with most people (young & old). His ability to put one at ease made him easy to confide in.  Outside of his biological parents and siblings, there were many who referred to him as brother and/or son. Sister Jointer confesses that it took her awhile to recognize the actual siblings. “To know him was to love him.”  

Pastor Jointer spent a lot of time in Hazlehurst, MS, where he attended and graduated from Parrish High School. He was a member of the football team which earned him a scholarship to Kentucky State and Alcorn State Universities. Instead, he chose to attend the “University of Marriage” and was united in holy matrimony to the former Claudette Mikell in August of 1970.  To their union, three (3) children were born.

Throughout his years he had several job opportunities beginning with his work with his father as a “pulp wood hauler,” when he was a youth.  Just prior to marriage he was employed with Jacobsen Lawn Mower Company in Brookhaven, MS.  He was later employed with the public school system as a Truant Officer at his alma mater, Parrish High School until he moved on to work for the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad.  There he became a supervisor in the Maintenance of Way Department.  Pastor Jointer was faithful to his employers and worked hard at whatever task he was assigned. All of these positions were temporary and led him to the most important assignment of his life. On the 3rd Sunday in September 1974 at the annual revival of the Macedonia MB Church, he accepted the called that he received at eleven (11) years old, to Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He was licensed into the gospel ministry in that same month and received his Certificate of Ordination (4) months later in January 1975 at the Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Wesson, MS.  

Pastor Jointer, being a diligent and hard worker at his assignments went on to apply himself according to the Word of God in II Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  In February 1979 he received his Busy Pastor’s Degree from Harper Baptist Seminary in Magnolia, MS; his English Bible Diploma from Mississippi Baptist Seminary in Jackson, MS - May 1980; Bachelor of Theology – February 1984; Master of Theology - February 1987 from Harper Baptist Seminary.  

Having a desire to meet the whole needs of the community, he served as Executive Director of Rural Services, Inc. in New Hebron, MS, a non-profit Community Development ministry that provided housing, clothing, etc. for the needy. He also served as Director of South MS Baptist Sunday School and BTU Congress and Instructor for   Mississippi Baptist Seminary at the Prentiss, MS extension.  

 God entrusted him to serve as shepherd of several flocks in Mississippi beginning with his first pastorage of Old Bethel Baptist Church in McCall Creek; followed by Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Sontag; Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church, Wesson; New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Oakvale; and North Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, New Hebron.

In 1992, Pastor Jointer left Mississippi, because God called him to a new field of work.  He was assigned to serve the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon where he gave leadership for seventeen years. In February of 1997 Pastor Jointer was presented with an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Harper Baptist Seminary, Magnolia, MS.  During this time, he was tasked with filling in as Interim Dean of the Portland Bible College; Instructor and President of the Ministers' Conference in the Union District Baptist Association Sunday School and BTU Congress.  While serving as 1st Vice President of the General Baptist Convention of the Northwest (GBCNW), under the directions of President F. A. Allen, he gave leadership to the development and construction of a 4.5-million-dollar Senior Citizen housing project, known as the Allen-Fremont Plaza. In 2003, he was elected President of the GBCNW and gave leadership in that position until July 2009. Pastor Jointer was also active in the National Baptist Convention of America (NBCA), where he served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Pastoral Board until September 2009.  He continued his work with the NBCA Foreign Mission Board until his health would no longer permit him to participate.

In 2009 Pastor Jointer moved back to Mississippi where he could be near and assist in taking care of his father.  While there he pastored the Mt. Elam Missionary Baptist Church in Pearl, MS.  He returned to Portland, OR in December of 2010.  After being back in Portland for a short time, he began a new work.  In March of 2011, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, he organized the Bethesda Baptist Church, where he served until God said, “Enough”.

On Thursday afternoon October 30, 2025, at the Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas, OR, “His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Matthew 25:21.

Pastor Jointer was preceded in death by his daughter, LaKeesha K. Jointer-Perkins; granddaughter: Jenesis Jaxon Jointer; his parents, Reverend Burgess and Sister Jessie L. Jointer; Brothers: Ronald and Willie Fred Jointer; Sisters: Carolyn A, Williams, Mattie L. Bell, Agnes M. Smith, and Darlene Jointer-Hall.

Our hearts are broken at the loss of Pastor Robert C. Jointer, but he will live on in the hearts of his loving wife Claudette Mikell Jointer; his Sons: Pastor Robert Matthew Jointer (Priscilla); Charles Jacy Jointer both of Portland, OR; his Daughter: Robin Carol Thomas of Ann Arbor, MI; his Nephew/Son: Reverend Darico L. Bell (Belinda) of Vancouver, WA; Two (2) Brothers: Pastor Larry D. Jointer (Diane) of Brookhaven, MS; Ray Frelix of St. Paul. MN; Six (6) Sisters: Mamie L. Williamson of Los Angeles, CA;  Queen Esther Barnes of Linwood, CA; Lillan A. Lilly (Waldo) of Brookhaven, MS; Linda F. Young, and Sharlene Banks of Wesson, MS; Janette Frelix-Gray of St. Paul MN; Eleven (11) grandchildren: Jacia, Jaliyah, Monet, Jacy Jeremiah, Josiah, Janiyah, and Jonivan all of Portland, OR; DeAnna, DeraAnn, Deshawna, and Deshaun all of Ann Arbor, MI; Twelve (12) great grandchildren; a dear aunt: Mrs. Ethel Bryant of Long Beach, CA;  Sister-in-law: Cheryl D Bell (Moses); Brothers-in-law: John S. Henry, Bobby C. Henry (Marilyn), Larry D. Henry (Sally), Gerald W. Henry (Shelia), Michael E. Henry (Harriet) all of Brookhaven, MS; One Goddaughter: Mel-isha Jones of Portland, OR; One godsons: Pastor Robert Mitchell Sr. of Brandon, MS; Sisters-of-the Heart: Carlene Bryant of Portland, OR & Carmel Graham of Vero Beach FL; Children-of-the-Heart: Shemyia Clemons of Houston, TX; Tia Weaver of Charlotte, NC, Robert L. Jr., James, and Charles Mitchell of Jackson, MS; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and The Bethesda Baptist Church Family.

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