Dorothy Dudley Roberts

Dorothy Ann Dudley Roberts, 93, died April 12, 2025. She was born January 14, 1932, to Dorothy Irene Pearson Dudley and Emmer Marion Dudley. After spending her childhood in Charlotte and High Point, Dottie moved with her family to Lenoir, NC. At Lenoir High School, Dottie played the string bass in the school orchestra and the glockenspiel in the marching band. Her senior year she served as the editor of the school yearbook,The Bearcat, and graduated in 1950. She attended Duke University and graduated in 1954 with a degree in Sociology.

Dottie began her teaching career in Charlotte where she taught at 9th grade Civics at Wilson Junior High. There she met Carl Dean Roberts, who taught industrial arts. They married in 1957 and made their home in Coulwood Hills, where they raised two daughters, Rachel and Rebecca. The couple lived in Coulwood for 63 years and were active members of Christ United Methodist Church. Dottie helped direct the children’s choir, sang in the church choir, and played the piano sometimes for church services. She and Carl were devoted members of their Sunday school class and enjoyed participating in most church activities.

After teaching a few years at Wilson Junior High, Dottie began teaching language arts and history at Mount Holly Junior High, where she spent the remainder of her 30-year career and retired in 1989. She greatly enjoyed being a teacher, and years later recounted stories of her students and coworkers. A lifelong English teacher, she also could not resist occasionally correcting someone’s word choice or grammar, even in her 90s.

Dottie also enjoyed gardening, camping, playing her piano, attending concerts, reading, and especially spending time with her grandchildren and family. After retiring, she and Carl enjoyed traveling with friends and tour groups.

For the past two and a half years, Dottie lived first at Morningside Assisted Living, and then at Courtland Terrace, both located in Gastonia. Her family is grateful for the many staff members who cared for her, and especially for her loving caregivers, Debra Roberts, Monique Rice, and Frances Accor.

Dottie is survived by her daughters, Rachel Roberts Hord and Rebecca Roberts Alley (Mark), and her beloved grandchildren, Jacob Alley and Abigail Rose Alley. Other surviving family members include Dottie’s brother, James Emmer Dudley (Gail), brother-in-law Jerry Roberts (Emily), and 9 nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Carl Dean Roberts, her sister Carolyn Dudley Bayzik and brother-in-law Stephen Anthony Bayzik, sister-in-law Mildred Jo Roberts Owens and brother-in-law William Ira Owens, nephew Mark Stanley Bayzik, and niece Laura Jo Owens.

A service celebrating Dottie’s life will be held Saturday, May 3, at 2:00 p.m. at Christ Methodist Church, with a reception afterward. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Christ United Methodist Church at 8020 Bellhaven Blvd. Charlotte, NC, 28216.