After a lifetime of serving others, James Donald “JD” Roberts passed from this life to the next on Wednesday, April 7, 2021.
JD joins his father, Major Dock Roberts, his mother, Dona Louemma Haynes Roberts and brothers, Elbert, Creed, Marvin, Hansel, and Larry, and sisters, Mary Louise and Verlis, and his wife of 50 years, Elena Maria McGuire Roberts.
JD is survived by Elizabeth Lewis O’Reilly Roberts, his loving wife of four years, his sister, Hazel Sexton and his beautiful brown-eyed puppy, “Boo.”
JD is lovingly remembered by his children: Son, Mark Roberts and wife Stephanie Midkiff Roberts of Charlotte, NC; son, Jamie Roberts and wife Linda Penny Roberts of Dunn; Lisa Johnson and her husband Mark Johnson of Coats; daughter, Cyndi Wynn and her husband Kennen Wynn of Greensboro; and bonus children Billy O’Reilly of the home and Lizann Snyder and her husband Todd Snyder of Dunn. He also leaves 13 very well-loved grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
JD was born in Matoaka, West Virginia on October 22, 1937. He graduated from Matoaka High School and went on to obtain a business degree from Bluefield State College. He continued his education and earned a master’s in counseling. His career began with teaching business classes until he began working in vocational rehabilitation where he worked for the State of North Carolina, Department of Human Resources Division of Services for the Blind. This job, as an administrator, gave him the opportunity to invest in the lives of people with disabilities.
He was a longtime member and frequent president of the Lions Club and organized many things like the NC State Fair Blind Made Products booth, to help raise funds for services to help people with visual impairments. He was active in church for most of his life – joining First Baptist in Raleigh, NC before finally finding a church home at First Assembly in Raleigh, where he served in Men’s Ministries as well as College and Adult Ministries, and served as Sunday School Director as well as a board member. In 1994 he and Elaine moved to Dunn where he continued his service at Glad Tidings Church, on the church board, teaching Sunday school, and organizing the Keenagers as well as the prayer connection. After retiring from state government he and Elaine opened the Simply Divine B & B for several years, he then completed the required education to update his teaching certificate and taught at South Johnston High School for several years. After teaching, and not being one to stand still, he completed the required work to become a licensed Assemblies of God minister and volunteered at the local hospitals, he also wrote a weekly newspaper column “Surviving Cancer”, and he volunteered with the Harnett County Literacy as well as the Dunn Food Pantry. As you can see, he never really retired until his “forced retirement” the other day, and he never ever stopped learning.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Tuesday evening, April 13, 2021, at Cromartie Miller Funeral Home in Dunn.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Glad Tidings Church with Rev. Tim Rice and Rev. Roy Johnson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to DUMA Food Pantry, P.O. Box 1281. Dunn, NC 28335, of which he was an ardent supporter.
A Service of Cromartie Miller Funeral Home of Dunn NC
