Ninth Generation

3957. Robert Roy (Roy) Bedwell Sr was born on 23 Sep 1915 in Jackson, Clarke County, Alabama.^{1328,2037,2038} He died on 30 Oct 2005 in Jackson, Clarke County, Alabama.^452,2037

• Obituary from The South Alabamian (Jackson, Alabama) for 3 Nov 2005
http://www.southalabamian.com/news/2005/1103/News/029.html:

Jackson businessman Roy Bedwell dies at age 90

By Jim Cox
SA Publisher

Roy Bedwell ran a local gasoline distributorship and helped found a local bank but one of his sons said he was most proud of helping to oversee the construction of church projects in the area.
Bedwell died Sunday in his hometown of Jackson. He had just turned 90.
One of his sons, Grady Bedwell, said his father became a truck driver right out of high school. From 1950 until 1989 he owned and operated Bedwell Oil Co., a Texaco distributorship in Thomasville.
In 1962, Bedwell and a group of fellow Jacksonians founded Merchants Bank with the aim of helping to provide loans and other banking needs for area business people and residents.
He served as chairman of the bank’s board of directors from 1962 until 1995 when he became vice chairman, a position he retained until his death.
"He came up hard and had nothing," Grady Bedwell explained. "He did a lot of things people didn’t know he did and he did them for the right reasons. You know, the best love stories are sometimes not told, but lived.”
Roy Bedwell was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Jackson and served the church in many capacities including Sunday School teacher. Grady Bedwell said his father was especially proud of the various building projects he was associated with.
"When First Baptist started the Forest Avenue Baptist Church as a mission, he was chairman of the building committee," his son said.
He also served as chairman of the building committee for First Baptist’s initial educational building and the newest sanctuary and educational building.
He built service stations all over southwest Alabama when he was with Bedwell Oil, built Merchants Bank’s downtown Jackson office and oversaw the construction of a new facility on North College Avenue.
He was also very interested in the building that is now nearing completion on North College Avenue, his son said.
He was active in many organizations and served as a trustee for the University of Mobile (formerly Mobile College) since its inception in 1962. He was also granted an honorary doctorate from UM.
"He loved his family and he loved the Lord," Grady Bedwell said.
Bedwell’s funeral was Wednesday at the First Baptist Church of Jackson. See an obituary elsewhere in today’s paper for other survivors and details.

http://www.southalabamian.com/news/2005/1103/Church/008.html:
Bedwell
Robert Roy Bedwell Sr., founder of Merchants Bank, died Oct. 30, 2005 at Jackson Medical Center. He was 90.
A native and lifelong resident of Jackson, he was a member of the First Baptist Church where he served as chairman of the finance committee on the Board of Deacons. He served as chairman of the board at Merchants from 1962 until 1995.
Bedwell operated a Texaco distributorship for 39 years from 1950-1989, and a liquid petroleum gas business for 25 years. He was a lifetime trustee of Mobile College, now the University of Mobile.
He is survived by three sons, R. R. “Buddy” Bedwell of Thomasville, Grady L. Bedwell and Joe Bedwell, both of Jackson; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The funeral was Nov. 2 at the First Baptist Church of Jackson with the Rev. Jerry Gibson, Dr. Tim Huie and Dr. Mark Foley officiating. Burial was in Pine Crest Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Tom Stacey, Robert Bumpers, Michael Bedwell, Rob Bedwell, Juan Whitehead, Bill Colvin and Dale Gwin. Honorary pallbearers were Craig Scruggs, Chip Harrigan, Jim Reid, Robert Hicks, Vivian G. “Sec” Johnson Jr., and Dr. Foley.
Memorials may be made to the Building Fund of the First Baptist Church of Jackson, 214 College Ave, Jackson, AL 36545 or to the Faye Bedwell Memorial Scholarship Fund at P.O. Box 13220, Mobile, AL 36663.

Robert Roy (Roy) Bedwell Sr and Mildred Gwin were married. Mildred Gwin was born on 30 Jul 1915.²⁰³⁹ She died on 15 Nov 1996 in Jackson, Clarke County, Alabama.⁴⁵² Robert Roy (Roy) Bedwell Sr and Mildred Gwin had the following children:

6058	i.	Robert Roy (Buddy) Bedwell Jr.
+6059	ii.	Grady Lamar Bedwell.
6060	iii.	Joseph Bedwell.