DR. ROBERT L. REASE
Dr. Robert Rease is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, where he received his Education in the Palm Beach County School system. After graduating from Palm Beach High School, he attended Valdosta State University. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and was selected to Who’s Who Among Students in Colleges and Universities in 1974.
In 1982, Dr. Rease received a master’s degree in business administration from Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia. In 1995, he received a Master of Ministry in Pastoral Study from Covington Theological Seminary Savannah Extension, a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Study in 2004, and a Doctor of Theology Degree in 1997. He is married to Mrs. Cosha Jackson Rease of Belle Glade, Florida. They have three daughters, Colbi Marks, Taylor (Joe) Lashley, and McKenzie, and two grandchildren, Preston and Savannah. His favorite scripture is Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
After graduating from college, Dr. Rease spent four years as a teacher in the Valdosta City School system. In 1978, he accepted a position with AT&T Marketing and moved to Savannah, Georgia. Dr. Rease was promoted to Assistant Manager in the BellSouth Consumer Service Department, where he remained until leaving the company in 1996. After eighteen and a half years with AT&T/BellSouth, Dr. Rease began a career in the Financial Services Business. He operated a Financial Service and Risk Management business for three years before accepting a position at Savannah Technical College as an Adjunct Professor in Mathematics.
Dr. Rease is the Senior Pastor of St. John First Missionary Baptist Church in Belle Glade, Florida. He has served as the City Manager of Belle Glade, Pastor of Zion Fair Missionary Baptist Church in Garden City, Georgia, a volunteer Chaplin for the Chatham County Detention Center in Savannah, Georgia, and the Georgia State Prison in Reidsville, Georgia, and a Professor for Covington Theological Seminary, Savannah, Georgia Extension.
Dr. Rease served the community as President of the Glades Area NAACP, on the Lakeside Medical Center Advisory Board, a member of the Lake Okeechobee Regional Economic (LORE) Alliance of Palm Beach County, Vice-Chairman of the Lighthouse Café Board, the Glades Advisory Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach, a former member of the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center Board, the Regional Board of the American Red Cross, and the Glades PATCH (Planned Approach to Community Health) Board. He is a co-founding of the Guardians of the Glades formed to save jobs in the Glades, a member of the Glades Career Readiness Roundtable, Service on the Executive Board of PEACE Palm Beach County (People Engaged in Active Community Efforts), and a faithful member of the Glades Area Ministerial Association.
He served as a Chaplain for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, District Secretary to Representative Tina Polsky and Kelly Skidmore of District 81, House of Representatives, a member of Leadership Glades Class of 2007, Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 2016, and Dr. Rease was recognized in 2012 as Man of the Year Florida by Harry Ross Ministries and received the Excellent in Leadership for a Non-Profit Award in 2017 from Leadership Palm Beach County, Belle Glade Chamber Citizen of the Year 202, Glades Community Service Award 2024.