Frederick (Fred) Burt Orr

A memorial service for Frederick Burt Orr, 72, will be held on Saturday, June 8, at 3:00 pm at the Blackville First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. The memorial service will be officiated by Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr., Dr. William A. Sandifer, and Dr. Thomas Terry. For memorial contributions, the family has designated Animal Advocates of Barnwell County, PO Box 1924, Barnwell, SC 29812 as well as Prison Fellowship, www.prisonfellowship.org Coach Orr passed away at home.

He was a resident of Blackville, SC. Born in Aiken, SC, he was a son of the late Jean Brinkley Orr and the late Lt. Col. Burt M. Orr, Jr., USMC, Ret. Coach Orr graduated from Brookland-Cayce High School and the University of South Carolina with B.S. and M.A.T. degrees in Physical Education. He completed many college courses in mathematics to earn certification to teach higher level high school math courses. He earned the following theological degrees: Doctor of Ministry from Andersonville Baptist Seminary; Doctor of Practical Ministry from Trinity Theological Seminary: and Master of Ministry from Anderson University. He was ordained to the ministry in 2000. Rev. Coach Orr, as he was called by many, was a skilled and caring teacher, coach, pastor, mentor, prayer warrior, and encourager. His purpose in life was to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to humankind. He kept in touch with hundreds of students from his 40-year teaching career as well as others by calling and sending Facebook messages and texts on a regular basis. He often tutored students during his planning period and after school. Numerous students considered him to be a father figure. Fred Orr loved people. He loved Christian doctrine, but he loved people more.  He taught middle school math and science in Swansea, SC, and coached girls basketball and football. He then taught and coached at North High School in North, SC. He was a football coach and taught AP Calculus, Statistics, Geometry, and Algebra at Blackville-Hilda High School for nineteen years. He taught high level Math courses at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High for seven years and at Williston-Elko High for two years. Rev. Orr pastored three churches during his career and served as interim pastor when called. He loved each of his congregations and the history of the churches. He pastored Lower Three Runs Baptist Church in Martin, SC, for 18 years and Great Saltkehatchie Baptist Church in Ulmer, SC, for 11 years. He was currently serving as pastor of Kline Baptist Church. He had served as a hospice chaplain. As a young man, Coach Orr served as a camp counselor at McCall RA (Baptist Royal Ambassadors) Camp for seven years. That was one of his most cherished memories. Coach Orr had taught an adult Sunday School class at Blackville First Baptist. Before becoming ordained, he was elected as a deacon at Swansea Baptist Church and at Blackville First Baptist Church. He was elected to Blackville Town Council and served for over ten years until his death.  Coach Orr never met a stranger. It appeared that he knew nearly half the people in Barnwell County a few months after moving to Blackville in 1988. He loved music. He played the piano by ear and enjoyed playing, especially in church. As an amateur radio operator (HAM operator), he had been a member of Salkehatchie Amateur Radio Society. He was an avid reader and a loyal Gamecock fan.

Surviving are his wife of 36 years, Kathy Berry Orr of Blackville; his daughter Kathryn Liana Orr of Williston; and a number of cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Clifton Kinder Orr.

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