Roger Bullard

Roger Aubrey Bullard, 87, of Wilson (late of Winston-Salem) embarked on his final journey Monday, November 25, 2024.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 7, at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church, Wilson. The visitation will be one hour before the service.  The Rev. Chris Thomas will be officiating, with Bobby White delivering the eulogy.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Roger and Ladye Mable “Babe” Bullard, and his daughter-in-law, Shannon Kuehne Bullard.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Carol Hawthorne Bullard; by his son, Kenneth Bullard and his daughters, Riley and Jamie; by his son, Floyd Bullard and his partner, Rick Lineberger; by his brother, Reed Bullard, his wife, Joan, and their family; by his sister, Ladye Jane Hilliard, her husband, Larry, and their family; and by a number of close friends and former colleagues.

Roger was born in Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 1, 1937. From his earliest days, he showed a strong intellect, skipping first grade because he demonstrated that he already knew everything first grade was intended to teach him. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Union University in Jackson, Tenn. He earned a Master’s degree in Ancient Languages from the University of Kentucky. In 1959 he enrolled at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He originally planned to go into the ministry, but was drawn instead to the more scholarly side of his Christian faith. He met Carol at seminary, and they were married May 21, 1961. He earned his doctoral degree in 1965 from Vanderbilt University.

Roger secured a position as a professor of Greek and Biblical Studies at Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson, N.C., where he would raise his family and work for his entire career. Their son Kenneth was born in 1965. Floyd arrived in 1969, making the family complete. In addition to his teaching career, Roger was one of seven translators of the Today’s English Version of the Bible, also known as The Good News Bible. He viewed this translating work as one of the primary achievements of his life. He was also an author, writing “Messiah: The Gospel According to Handel’s Oratorio” and “The Life and Times of First Baptist Church, Wilson, North Carolina” a history of the first 150 years of his church in Wilson, of which he was a member for over 60 years. He was an editor of “The Mercer Dictionary of Living Religions” and “The Mercer Dictionary of the Bible.” He also wrote or edited a number of scholarly texts for the American Bible Society.

Roger was a life-long Democrat, and was proud to cast his ballot by mail for Kamala Harris in 2024.

Roger was always a frugal man, which rewarded him when he was able to retire at the age of 57 in 1994. He and Carol then spent many years pursuing one of his other great passions: traveling. Roger visited every one of the nation’s 63 national parks, countless state parks across the country, and most of Canada’s national parks as well. He also visited all seven continents, (yes, including Antarctica). He wrote detailed journals of his travels and shared them with family and friends. When old age made further travel impossible, he continued reading travelogues, as well as novels set in places he had visited.

Roger has now ventured out on his last journey, traveling to his true home with the Lord he always sought to serve. We have no doubt that when he was greeted in heaven, Jesus said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in Roger’s memory be made to First Baptist Church, PO Box 1467, Wilson, NC 27894, designated for the Bullard Lecture Series endowment.