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<br /> <br />After serving as pastor of Binkley Church for 30 years, and as Bob was entering his retirement <br />years, a new interest in aging services arose. In 1990 Reverend Seymour was appointed to the <br />Orange County Advisory Board on Aging, and Bob quickly became an advocate for aging <br />services. Reverend Seymour served on the Orange County Task Force for Senior Needs in <br />Southern Orange County, and became the guiding force in the inception, planning and design of <br />a new senior center. He was instrumental in securing a temporary location for a new Chapel Hill <br />Senior Center on Elliott Road in Chapel Hill. <br /> <br />With Bob doing much of the behind the scenes work, a County bond was proposed and passed <br />to build a state of the art senior center. In 2005 the Orange County Board of County <br />Commissioners voted to name the new senior facility on Homestead Road the “Robert and Pearl <br />Seymour Center” in honor of the Seymours for their dedication and commitment to serving the <br />older adults in Orange County. In 2007 the Seymour Center opened and has served a diverse <br />population for the past 13 years. Until the COVID pandemic, Bob visited the Center at least once <br />a week for exercise class and a weekly massage. He was very proud that the Center was a place <br />that everyone, regardless of socio-economic status or race, was welcomed. <br /> <br />Reverend Seymour will be remembered for loving people; for being compassionate and generous; <br />and for his boldness when needed. Bob was a prolific writer, which became even more of a <br />passion in his later years. He published several books including Aging Without Apology: Living <br />the Senior Years with Integrity and Faith and “Whites Only” A Pastor’s Retrospective on Signs of <br />the New South. <br /> <br />Reverend Robert “Bob” Seymour leaves behind a legacy of service; many friends; and is an <br />example of a life well-lived with meaning and purpose. He is survived by his children, Frances <br />and Rob, their spouses, and several grandchildren. <br /> <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item. <br /> <br />SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated <br />with this item. <br /> <br />ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal <br />impact associated with this item. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt and authorize the <br />Chair to sign the resolution honoring and remembering Reverend Robert E. Seymour. <br />2