Roberta Pauline Calahan

On January 11, 2017, Roberta Pauline Coleman Calahan answered our heavenly Father’s call to come home. She was born November 1, 1935 in Los Angeles, California with her twin brother, Robert Willie Coleman (deceased) to Florence Ocie Bisco Robinson (deceased). Shortly after birth they were taken in and raised by their birth mother’s sister and husband, Sherman and Lillian Bisco Reed (both deceased) as their own with their three children Ronald Henry; Betty Yvette and William Reed (all deceased). She attended and graduated from Dorsey High School of Los Angeles. Roberta also attended Los Angeles City College and St. Edwards University of Austin, Texas.

By God’s design, on June 19, 1968, Roberta met the love of her live, H. Ed Calahan and they were married September 21, 1968. Proverbs 18:22 says, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtain the favor of the Lord.” God blessed this union with three children Collette Elaine, Debra Ward and Marcus Garvey.

Sister Calahan professed a belief in Christ at an early age and was baptized with the African Methodist Episcopal Church Faith. Upon moving to Austin, Texas, she attended David Chapel Baptist Church. On September 22, 1968, she and her newly wedded family joined and became members of David Chapel where she and daughter Collette was baptized by the late Pastor James E. Obey. There she became a part of Junior Mission and choir serving faithfully until moving their membership to the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in 1980 under Pastor G.V. Clark. There she served in several ministries missions, choir and as a Deaconess. She was very involved in Austin City-wide Youth, St. John’s Associations children/youth Bible Story Telling and Scripture Memory ministry. On January 1995, her husband was called to pastor The Agape Baptist Church where she served as First Lady, children Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School, Marriage Enrichment Ministry, Women Ministry, Outreach Ministry, Bible Study, etc.

Sister Calahan organized and served as President of The Austin Agape International Ministers Wives/Ministers Widows Chapter. She served as Vice President and Interim President of The Texas International Ministers Wives/Ministers Widows. She was a member of Sisters Network, Inc. Austin Chapter for Breast Cancer Survivors; member and officer of The Capital City Evening Lion’s Club and Christian Women United. She was a former of member of The Jack and Jill of America Organization.

Roberta worked at the University of Texas Law Library; The Central Texas Blood Bank and Twenty-Six years as Assistant Librarian and Instructional Aide with the Austin Independent School District in Early Childhood Development at Maplewood Elementary; Casis Elementary and Andrews Elementary Schools where she retired in 1995. She also worked summers at the Rosedale campus. She was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and The Breast Cancer Resource Center at Brackenridge Hospital.

Sister Calahan loved her family. She leaves to cherish her memory a loving and caring husband of 48 years, Pastor Horace Ed Calahan; two daughters Collette Elaine Laday (Marcus Keith-deceased) Dallas, TX; Debra Ward Love (Howard), Rialto, CA and one son, Marcus Garvey Calahan, Houston, TX. Four grandchildren: Simone R. Laday Alexander (Nehemiah) Oklahoma City, Ok; Ryan Keith Laday, Dallas, TX; Brian and Brenton Love (Rialto, CA). Sister-in-laws: Juanita Y. Calahan (Austin, TX); Cindy Coleman (Robert-deceased) Norwalk, CA; Pineatha Reed (Ronald-deceased) Los Angeles, CA; Emma Calahan (Billy Ray-deceased) Camden Arkansas. Brother-in-laws: Harlen J. Calahan (Renea) Colorado Springs, CO; Terry C. Calahan (Sharron) Camden, Arkansas and James F. Calahan (Austin, TX), many spiritual children. A host of other relatives: an uncle, aunts, nieces, nephews, God Children, Spiritual sisters, Spiritual brothers and friends.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday, January 16, 2017 at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville, Texas. Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church located at 2938 E. 13th Street, Austin, Texas 78702. Burial will follow services at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas.

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