Robert Edward Keesee was born in Clarksville, Tennessee to Robert Ford and Lucile Alice (Lyle) Keesee. His family spiritually nurtured him among the loving family and friends of Martin Chapel A.M.E. Church where he accepted Jesus the Christ as his Lord and Savior at the young age of nine. As a devoted teacher in the Metro-Nashville School System his earnest desire was to serve God and humanity. He therefore, accepted the call to preach while a member of Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church, Nashville, under the pastorate of the late Rev. Jesse Boyd. The young man Keesee prepared himself for God’s work both theologically and academically by receiving a Bachelor and Master of Arts from Tennessee State University, Bachelor of Divinity - American Baptist Theological Seminary, and from Scarritt College at Vanderbilt Divinity School a Master of Religious Education. He has also matriculated at Lexington Theological Seminary in their Doctorate of Ministry program and has received honorary doctorate degrees from Shorter College, Little Rock, Arkansas and Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio.

Rev. Keesee’s pastorate has blessed the 13th Episcopal District as a builder, a leader in the acquisition of real estate and as a connectional leader.

First A.M.E. Church, Pegram, TN
Trinity A.M.E. Church, Nashville, TN
Allen Chapel, Murfreesboro, TN - During this time he also pastured Cedar Grove and New Bethel A.M.E. Churches and built two new churches at the same time.
St. Peter A.M.E. Church, Clarksville, TN - The church was place on Tennessee’s Historical Register during his pastorate
St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Chattanooga, TN - Remodeled the church and purchased two city blocks of land
St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Lexington, KY - Purchased a new parsonage
Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church, Nashville, TN
Quinn Chapel, Louisville, KY - Host Pastor, 1996 General Conference

Rev. Keesee is also a prolific writer and has published the following books:

The History of the A.M.E. Church in Tennessee
The History of the East Tennessee A.M.E. Churches
Compiled and published - The Minutes of the First Annual Session of the East Tennessee Conference of the A.M.E. Church - October 30, 1901
The Christian Year and Some Symbols of Our Faith, 1979
Bird’s Eye View of the Black Methodist and United Methodist Denomination, 1989

His ministerial gifts have always blessed the communities where he served, ecumenical circles and African Methodism:

President, Tri-Methodist Fellowship, Lexington, Kentucky, 1989 - 1994
Advisory Board Member, Peer Counseling Program, Chattanooga, Tennessee’s Youth Centers
Member, President’s Advisory Board of University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Member of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Coca-Cola Scholarship Committee
Vice President, Chattanooga Venture
Chairman of the Board, Chattanooga Community Info-Line
Charter Member, Chattanooga Area Urban League
President, Minister’s Union, Chattanooga
Professor of Homiletics, American Baptist Theological Seminary
Delegate to the 39th, 40th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 46th, and 47th sessions of the General Conference of the A.M.E. Church
President, Black Methodist, Louisville Area
Dean of Minister’s Institute, 13th Episcopal District
Host Pastor, 45th Session - General Conference of the A.M.E. Church, Louisville, Kentucky, June 26 - July 3, 1996
Appointed Presiding Elder by Bishop H.H. Brookins to Kentucky Conference, 1999-2004

He has also traveled in the interest of African Methodism through out the United States, the Caribbean and Africa. He has visited the Holy Land twice, lectured in South Korea (1985) and Japan (1987) at the World Conference of Interdenominational Clergy. Our trusted friend has brought glory to God as the recipient of various honors including the Governor’s Outstanding Tennessean Award, Outstanding Community Leader Award - Murfreesboro/Rutherford County, Tennessee, Leadership Award, Billy Graham Crusade, Outstanding Community Service Award, Nashville, Tennessee; Distinguished Citizen and Key to the City, Chattanooga and the 1996 YMCA Adult Black Achiever Award, Louisville, Kentucky.

Currently, Presiding Elder Keesee oversees the North Nashville District of the Tennessee Conference, is a member of the Board of Trustees, Payne Theological Seminary, a member of Pan-Methodist and is the Chairman of the 13th Episcopal District Board of Christian Education. Rev. Keesee is a member of Prince Hall Masons - Lodge #51, is a Life Member of the NAACP, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Urban League - Chattanooga, Tennessee Chapter. Rev. Keesee is married to Gladys Mae Allen Keesee and they are the proud parents of three children, two grandchildren and one great grandchild.