Barbara Marlene Roberts

Barbara Marlene Roberts, age 76, passed away July 7, 2010 suddenly at her home in the Karns Community. She was born March 12, 1934 in Dalton, Georgia and was the eldest of 6 children born to Earl and Sarah Roberts. She attended the Oak Ridge School System and later graduated from Karns High School in Knoxville.

Barbara received her Diploma in Nursing from Baroness Erlanger School of Nursing, Chattanooga, TN in 1955; she received a Bachelor of Science, Education (magna cum laude) from the University of Tennessee in 1975 and a Master in Public Health (summa cum laude) in 1979.

She began her nursing career in 1955 at Fort Sanders Presbyterian Hospital in Knoxville, TN. In 1960 she worked for Union Carbide Corporation in Oak Ridge, TN. She later worked in Chattanooga, TN for Memorial Hospital and also Erlanger Medical Center. In 1987 she moved to Atlanta, Georgia and began her career with Georgia Baptist Medical Center. She took early retirement in 2002 to care for her mother. Barbara devoted the last eleven (11) years of her life in the care of her mother and later for her father. She was a very devoted and caring person, committed to excellence in proper health education and administration. Her greatest contribution to life was her loving gift of service to others. She was an avid reader and her love for knowledge was displayed through her collection of hundreds of books.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Sarah and Earl Roberts; brother, Norris Roberts, and sister, Doris Roberts. She is survived by a sister, Charlcie Roberts Shastid of Knoxville, TN; two brothers – Gerald Roberts (Phyllis Lee Roberts) of Signal Mtn. TN and David Roberts (Jeanette Lindsay Roberts) of Knoxville, TN; sister-in-law Jackie Adams Roberts of Cartersville, GA and brother-in-law James Partin of Knoxville. Other survivors include eleven (11) nieces and nephews and fifteen (15) great nieces and nephews. Barbara was a ‘Special Aunt’ to all her nieces and nephews.

A special ‘Thank You’ to Sister Rosa Reed Mobley, for her love, friendship, and spiritual guidance to Barbara during these last several years. She was a special blessing for Barbara.

The family will receive friends at Weavers Funeral Home on Oak Ridge Highway Monday evening from 6 to 8PM with the service to follow at 8PM. Burial will be Tuesday at 12:00 noon in Oak Ridge Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Grace Baptist Church.