John Fredrick Roberts

John Fredrick Roberts, 90, of Greenville, SC, formerly of Chapin, SC, died April 12, 2018. Born on September 7, 1927 in Columbia, he was the son of the late John Augustus and Linnie Karlene Jackson Roberts. John was born in Columbia and grew up during the Great Depression. He was the middle child of three and the only boy. He graduated from Columbia High School in 1944 and enlisted in the United States Navy. He served aboard a destroyer, The John A. Bole from March of 1945 to May 31, 1946. John returned to Columbia and met and married the love of his life, Mae Welch. At the time of his retirement in 1993, he was working for General Electric Company in the Electrical Distribution and Control Sales Division. During his retirement, John did genealogy research on both of his parents’ families. He was able to reconnect with many of his relatives and began publishing “The Jackson Family Newsletter”. Seven family reunions were held, the last in May 2002. John was a life long member of Park Street Baptist Church and served as a deacon, Chairman of the Board of Deacons, member of the finance committee, pastor search committee, and taught Sunday School and Training Union. He was a member of The Eagles, a group of men who prayed together and completed various projects around the church. Mr. Roberts is survived by his daughter, Dr. Janet Sherran Roberts Edwards (Dr. M. Thomas Edwards, Jr.) of Greenville, SC; daughter-in-law, Katherine Randolph Roberts of Chapin; grandchildren, Benjamin Thomas Edwards (special girlfriend, Heather Driver); Parks Miller Edwards (Melodie); David Roberts Edwards (fiancé, Brittany Tepedino); Melissa Roberts Cooper (Jamie); Beth Roberts Sharron (Keith); Christopher Desantis-Mallia (Dan); and Eric Anthony Mallia; great-grandchildren, Justin Greider, Faith Stanberry, Ryan Stanberry, Dylan Stanberry, and Brooke Montgomery; and sister, Patricia R. Cecil. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mae, of 69 years only six days prior to his death; his son, David Stephen Roberts; his daughter, Nancy Ellen Roberts Mallia; son-in-law, Michael Mallia; grandson, John Bradford Edwards; great-grandson, Brent Stanberry; and sister, Juliette Roberts Dreher. The funeral service for Mr. Roberts will be held at 2 o’clock, Monday, April 16, 2018 at Park Street Baptist Church with Pastor Jay Black officiating. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery, 501 Elmwood Avenue, Columbia. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 1 o’clock. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family. Memorial donations may be made to Park Street Baptist Church, 2204 Park Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or to Homestead Hospice, 109 Laurens Road, Building 1A, Greenville, SC 29607. Special thanks to all the staff at Rolling Green Rehabilitation and Healthcare for their special care for Mr. Roberts during the time he was there.

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John Fredrick Roberts

September 7, 1927 - April 12, 2018