It goes without saying that pediatricians care for the physical well-being of their young patients, but one retired Thomasville pediatrician, Robert B. (Bob) Maxwell, has also spent a lifetime impacting the spiritual lives of two generations of this area’s young people.

Dr. Maxwell, who moved to the community to join a pediatric medical practice in 1972, has spent the last 50 years as a dedicated Sunday School teacher of older elementary aged students at First Presbyterian Church of Thomasville. On Wednesday evening, at a church-wide Thanksgiving family night supper, the congregation added Maxwell to the list of things they are thankful for, honoring him with a resolution marking his five decades of voluntary service.

Julie Beverly Barrett, who was a student in Dr. Maxwell’s Sunday School class in the late 1970s, remembered his Bible drills and scripture quizzes, with prizes like packets of Trident gum and honey for those who answered correctly. Later, when her own children were growing up and she served as a Sunday School leader herself, she observed their interactions with Dr. Maxwell as well.

“Dr. Maxwell knows how to relate to kids, how to motivate them,” Barrett said. “He’s a great teacher, and you really learn in his class.”

“Dr. Maxwell knows how to connect to kids,” agreed First Presbyterian’s Senior Pastor Tim Filston, sharing an anecdote of how he and Charles Balfour came across a corn snake. “Charles said, ‘I bet if we got that snake, he would use it this Sunday in his lesson on the Garden of Eden.’ So, we bagged it up, gave it to Bob and, sure enough, it was his object lesson for the morning!”

Another past student of Maxwell’s is Tom Everett, who remembered prizes such as rare stamps, arrow heads and historic coins for successfully reciting verses or quickly finding a specific book in the Bible. Like Barrett, Everett has had the opportunity to observe the master teacher leading classes with his own children.

“I remember feeling like I was 9 or 10 years old, really getting into the lesson as if I were one of the students again,” Everett said with a laugh. “Dr. Maxwell has a real gift, and my kids have loved his classes. He goes the extra mile, and as a parent, you receive a midweek email from him, letting you know what will be covered in the next Sunday’s lesson and how you can help your children prepare.”

Along with Everett, FPC Director of Christian Educational Elizabeth Mitchum spoke to Maxwell’s dedication and preparation.

“The word that comes to my mind is ‘faithfulness,’ not just in showing up every Sunday, but arriving early to prepare his classroom and sending out communications every week to the parents so the students can be ready for class,” Mitchum said. “He really focuses on teaching our older elementary students how to use the Bible, how to find the scripture they’re looking for… and his passion is to really teach them scripture and give them an understanding of the path of salvation. He always goes above and beyond just the Sunday School lesson.”

“We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the partnership with his wife, Ruth Ann,” Mitchum added, explaining that both Maxwells are long-serving volunteers in many areas of church life and leadership. 

The Maxwells raised their three children — Douglas, Jennifer and Rob — here, and active involvement at First Presbyterian has long been a foundation of their daily lives. Most recently, for example, the couple participated in the church’s annual “Trunk or Treat” celebration, decorating their vehicle in a beekeeping theme, including a live bee and honeycomb display, and distributing tastes of their own home-produced honey for delighted children.

“That’s the kind of servant leaders they are — participating in work projects, teaching Sunday School, chairing church committees and working behind-the-scenes,” Mitchum added.

“Most pastors I know, including me, might almost be in favor of cloning if we could limit the practice to people like the Maxwells,” Filston said. “The way they consistently honor God and serve others has shifted their center away from themselves for decades. One of my favorite book titles sums up their commitment very well:  A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.”