Roberta Warren Abstein

Roberta Warren Abstein, 79, ended her earthly journey after a long illness on June 17, 2019 at NHC Place at the Trace with her family at her side. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bankhead Chandler Warren and Joy Waste Warren. She is survived by her husband, The Reverend Dr. W. Robert “Bob” Abstein; her son, William Robert “Bill” Abstein, III (Lisa); and daughter, Roberta Chandler Miniat (Richard); grandchildren: Brian Harrison (Sarena), Weslea, Ashlyn, Olivia, William, Alexis, and Hannah Miniat; Nathaniel Abstein; great-grandchildren: Owen and Kyler Harrison; and her sister, Ann Chandler Powers (Kip) and family.

Roberta was born in Jacksonville, Florida; went to Robert E. Lee High School; and graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Music Education. She taught music in Jacksonville, Richmond, Virginia, and finally in Atlanta, Georgia. Her fondest memories of teaching were those years in Atlanta at Brown High School where she was the choral director. Her students loved her and did some fantastic musicals under her direction. As her children grew up to school age she returned to the classroom to work as an aide in special education.

Roberta and Bob were married in 1966. She was a wonderful clergy spouse who dearly loved being part of the various congregations they served in Cantonment, Pensacola, and Tallahassee, Florida; Marietta, Georgia; and Nashville, Tennessee. She was a devoted mother to her two children and a marvelous grandmother to her grandchildren. Most afternoons during the school year she could be found helping her children and then her grandchildren with their school work.

Roberta used her musical gifts to lead a folk mass choir and band in Georgia as well as substituting as the organist in Cantonment and Marietta. She was a member of the Order of the Daughters of the King and served on a number of Cursillo staffs in Georgia.

Roberta loved to travel and particularly to England where she was able to view a copy of the Magna Carta for she was a Daughter of the Barons of Runnymede. She was a gracious hostess, who held many parties for their friends and the parishes they served.

Roberta served as a docent for the Atlanta Symphony and Cheekwood Gardens. She loved telling the story of those wonderful institutions. She was the consummate people person who never met a stranger. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

We want to thank the nurses and staff of NHC Place at the Trace and Caris Hospice for their loving care of Roberta in the final months of her life. In lieu of flowers please give to the charity of your choice or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s memorial fund.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2019 from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 510 W Main St, Franklin, TN 37064 followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be held at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens.