Robert Butler Crews was the son of James "Jim" C. Crews, born in Halifax County, Virginia, and his wife, Frances Louise (Estes) Crews, also born in Virginia.

He was married to Mary Johnson.

Service with the C. S. A. 27th Infantry during the Civil War.

Robert as a Minister of the Gospel. (His father was also a Minister of the Gospel.)

Birth and death dates, as well as location of burial, are taken from his TN Death Certificate.

The following information is the "Biography of R. B. Crews," taken from: HISTORY OF NEW LIBERTY ASSOCIATION OF TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY 1883-1983, by L. H. Greer

(This is the opening article in the book. Bro. R. B. Crews was one of the founders of the New Liberty of Tennessee and Kentucky Association of General Baptists, as well as a founder of several General Baptist Churches in West Tennessee and western Kentucky. The article was provided to the historical record of the association by Novelle Smith of Martin, Tennessee, for the history written at the association's centennial celebration. The article originally appeared in a local newspaper.)

Rev. R. B. Crews
R. B. Crews, son of Rev. Jimmie C. and Louise F. Crews, was born Dec 29, 1833. He married to Miss Mary Johnson Dec. 16, 1855. To this union were born nine children--Louise, Paralee, James Tillman, Martha Jane, Robert Harris, Mara Ida, Albert Alonzo, Haywood Benjamin, and Willie Butler; six of whom remain to mourn their loss.
After the death of Mrs. Crews, he was married to Miss Susan Amanda Thorne, May 22, 1878. To this union were born six children--Fannie Elizabeth, Edgar Lee, Minnie May, the twins Ella Ann and Della Wesley, and Claudius Valentine; four of whom remain to mourn their irreparable loss.
Brother Crews, feeling the divine call to preach the gospel, gave himself to the service of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was licensed to preach by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, later transferred to the Missionary Baptist Church and was ordained in 1850. Later he transferred to the General Baptist Church and was set apart by solemn ordination according to the usages of this denomination to the full work of the ministry, by order of the presbytery of New Liberty Association, September 1882; Ed McDonald moderator, Ed Cooper, Clerk.
For over 66 years, Brother Crews has preached the gospel of Christ wherever in the divine providence of God he has been placed, striving by precept, example, conversation and daily walk before God and man with all diligence, that the gospel be not blamed and that the grace of God might not be bestowed in vain. As a preacher, he was far above those of equal opportunities, being plain, clear, and a great exponent of and believer in the "old-time religion". As an organizer his superior is not to be found in this country, as the many churches he organized and fostered will testify. As a revivalist he was very successful. Always holding up the crucified, dead and risen Lord as the only means of escaping the condemnation of a just and righteous God. Those converted under his ministry are numbered in the thousands. Brother Crews was an acceptable pastor and filled many pulpits of the General Baptist churches; helped to organize Shady Grove Church, about 1887, and was its pastor until failing health made it impossible for him to longer travel.

This spring the dread disease pneumonia laid hold on him and his faithful wife, and on March 21 she departed this life in full assurance of the presence of Christ, having called her pastor and her children to her bedside and made preparation for all details of her own funeral and talked about death as a great deliverance from the sufferings of this world and a translations to the eternal home of the soul. We laid her remains to rest in the Beech Springs cemetery, after funeral services conducted by Rev. Witt T. Holley and Rev. T.C. Sadler. Seventeen days later on April 7, 1916, Brother Crews fell asleep in Jesus, and after funeral services at Beech Springs church by Revs. Sadler, Thomas and Holley, attended by a large congregation, we laid his remains beside those of his dear companion, there to await the call of the resurrection morning. Sister Crews was 68 years old, and Brother Crews was 82. Well may they be counted with those mighty worthies of the New Testament mentioned in the 11th chapter of Hebrews: "These all died in faith".

[Printed in paper about June 18, 1916]

Bro. Crews was Moderator of the NL of TN & KY Association 8 times, Clerk 2 times, preached the introductory sermon 3 times, and he was believed to have also been moderator in the association's first five sessions beginning with its establishment in 1883, but there is no record remaining of them.