Society Ridge MBC plans anniversary celebration for longest serving pastor

JANS – Society Ridge Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Senior Pastor, Robert L. Patton, June 7, 2026. The 11:00 a.m. service will be held in the church sanctuary located at 3506 Greens Crossing Road in Pocahontas, MS. His son, Rev. Ronnie Patton, will deliver the anniversary message.

The program could serve as a pre birthday celebration as well since Pastor Patton was born June 20, 1941, in Clinton, MS. 

At a young age he was introduced to the church environment by his family and at the age of 10, he confessed Christ as his Lord and Savior at Mt. Hood M.B. Church under Rev. Dan Hill. 

Even in his youth, Pastor Patton was active in different auxiliaries of the church. He became a Sunday School teacher at the age of 14 and participated as a delegate at the Mississippi State Baptist Convention for numerous years. He was also elevated to deacon at the age of 20.

His educational accomplishments include graduating from Sumner Hill High School and the Mississippi Baptist Seminary in Religious Studies.

In 1984, Pastor Patton entered the ministry. He accepted the pastoral call to the Society Ridge Baptist Church in March 1986. The highly regarded faith leader has the distinction of being the church’s longest serving pastor, and likewise, his wife, Minnie Pearl Hill Patton, as First Lady. 

The couple has been married for 64 years, and have raised their four children with all confidence in Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make thy path straight.”

A Pre Celebration Dinner will be held Sunday, May 31, 2026, 3 p.m., at the Hilton Jackson. For ticket information, please call 601.941.1938.