BROOKHAVEN — Robert Mayfield was in a staff lounge at Easthaven Baptist Church when he agreed to share his story close to where The Dart landed Wednesday. Mayfield has served as the music minister at Easthaven Baptist Church since 2006. 

He is originally from Natchez but said he would stop by Brookhaven as a kid on trips. The school he graduated from is no longer open in Natchez. Trinity Episcopal Day school was one of three private schools in Natchez but closed its doors in 2018, he went to school there and grew up going to First Baptist Church Natchez. 

After high school, he went to Mississippi College where he earned an undergraduate and graduate degree in music. Music was a career path he felt God called him too. He started singing in first grade. 

“I sang in the choir at church and at school. My school did not have a band but I played piano and guitar,” Mayfield said. “I went to MC because I had some contacts. I knew the director of music at MC. Additionally, there was a show group called The Naturals. The group took me there. It was a show choir.” 

The call to ministry developed over time and started before he went off to Mississippi College. Mayfield worked as a recreation assistant at First Baptist in Natchez. The experience in high school revealed God leading him into ministry. 

“I started to ask the question, what if I did this the rest of my life. It developed over time for me,” Mayfield said. 

His first job in the ministry after college was at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison as a music associate. Eventually, he wanted to find a head music ministry job. In July of 2006, he got a call from Easthaven’s search committee. 

After his first visit, he knew it was the place for him and his family. Mayfield takes care of leading the adult choir and orchestras, children’s music and media work for the church. He also handles publications for the church. Seventeen years later, he is still serving the church. 

“Some folks do not seem to stay long in ministry but we have never felt a calling to leave,” Mayfield said. “Every church goes through changes and while it has been sad to see people transition to other cities or towns, it is also exciting to see new faces that God is leading here.” 

Michelle, his wife, is the director of the children’s ministry.  His son Will is a junior at Mississippi State, his daughter Aubrye is a freshman at Ole Miss and his daughter Miley is a sophomore at Brookhaven High School. Magnolia Blues is currently their favorite restaurant in town. 

“We love living here,” Mayfield said. “The close knit community of Brookhaven has been really good for us.”