Overseer Roosevelt Porter, Jr.

Roosevelt Porter Jr. was born to the late Roosevelt Porter Sr. and Alice Dickens on October 13th, 1929 in Tarboro, North Carolina. Roosevelt attended public school in Tarboro. Family life was dominantly sharecropping throughout Roosevelt’s childhood, and he often talked about this being the reason for not being able to finish school. As a boy, Roosevelt played a huge role in gardening and farming with the family. Roosevelt often shared childhood stories and memories of his mischievous nature as he explored the woods by himself. Manhood began when his father died in his arms at the age of 19. Immediately, Roosevelt began working and providing for his mother and six siblings as “the man of the house”.  

Roosevelt gave his heart to The Lord around the age of 22 after the family moved to Norfolk, VA, and he joined First Baptist Church Campostella shortly thereafter.  Roosevelt soon became a deacon and served faithfully for 49 years. Roosevelt learned to read and write while working in the church. He was an avid Sunday schoolteacher and was known for his baritone singing voice. Roosevelt later joined the Greater Works Deliverance Center in January 2002 and served as part of the ministerial staff as Elder and Overseer. Wherever Roosevelt was in the church community, his Stand for God’s Word was always greatly known. Roosevelt was a pillar, and he was reliable, responsible, and intentional.

Roosevelt retired from Roadway as a commercial truck driver at the age of 65 and after working for more than 30 years. Roosevelt was a faithful husband and father in every aspect. Roosevelt had one prior daughter, Edna Sherrill. Roosevelt married Rue Ellen Rudd on October 11th, 1958 and from this union, they had seven children (Tyronna Smith, Roosevelt Porter III (Julie), Alison Brunner, Reginald Porter (Gale), Joy Porter-Blount, Crystal Williams, and Benjamin Porter (India). The two have twenty-four grandchildren, thirty-three great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Roosevelt has a beloved adoptive daughter, Margaret Bazemore. Roosevelt has one living sister, Pastor Hazel Andrews, both having outlived in number of years all of their known prior family members.