Jean Rankin Roberts
March 6, 1929 ~ July 30, 2008
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Aubrey Jean Rankin Roberts, 79, of Givens Estates, formerly of North Asheville, died Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at Memorial Mission Hospital Heart Center.
Mrs. Roberts was born in Mt. Holly, NC on March 6, 1929, to the late Reverend Frank Bisaner Rankin and Oneta Battley Rankin. She graduated from Mt. Holly High School. She began her college education at Peace College in 1946, transferring in 1948 to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated with her A.B. degree in Education in 1950. In April 1951 she married Landon Roberts, an Asheville attorney, whose firm Roberts & Stevens carries his name.
Mrs. Roberts was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and an active volunteer. She touched many people through her compassion and service to the community as a faithful member of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Gleaners Sunday School Class, The Junior League of Asheville, The Children's Welfare League and the Junior Vetus Study Club. She was a very dedicated, long term Hospice volunteer and was a recipient of the 2007 NC Governor's Award for Volunteer of the Year. She was a member of the Country Club of Asheville.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Roberts was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Landon Roberts, who died in 2007; her son, Landon H. Roberts Jr., who died in 1980 in a Naval Air crash; her brothers, Frank Battley Rankin and Dr. Richard Eugene Rankin, and her sister, Kitty Rankin Watson.
Surviving are her daughters, Anne Roberts, of Asheville, formerly of Staunton, Va., and Kate Roberts Henry and her husband, Roger M. Henry Jr., of Asheville; grandchildren, Robert Townsend Hooe, of Staunton, and Riley Haynes Henry and Landon Roberts Henry, of Asheville and daughter-in-law, Mayer Martin Baker and her husband, Will Baker of Baltimore, MD. She is also survived by her 98 year old sister, Mary Delia Rankin Jarman of Gastonia, NC, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The graveside service will be held at Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Pritchard Cemetery in Marshall. For directions, please call Groce Funeral Home at 687-3530. All are welcome.
A memorial service will be held Saturday 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, with a reception immediately following in Tuton Hall.
Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Care Partners Hospice and Palliative Care, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813 and Trinity Episcopal Church, 60 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801.
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Anne —
just know that we love you and we are thinking of you always.
Anne, we are all saddened to learn about the passing of your mother. Our love and prayers follow you wherever you go. Visit us soon.
Love, The IA Office.
Dear Anne and Kate,
Your mother was a gracious Southern lady whose radiant smile always greeted her family and friends. She was such a vibrant person who will be greatly missed.We loved her and will miss her so much.
May our Lord comfort you in this time of loss.
Our love, Warner and Bill
Dear Kate and Anne,
What a wonderful lady, what a wonderful parent, and what a wonderful person. We will all miss her. From all the Gardners, we love you, and you are in our prayers.
Dear Kate and Anne and Family,
I was so sorry to learn of Jean’s passing. She was truly an exceptional woman. She was the first person I met in Asheville when Roger and I moved here in 1966. She promptly took me under her wing and introduced me, door to door, to all of our new neighbors. Jean was so kind and truly a dear person who will be missed by all who knew her.
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
To the Roberts family:
Please accept my sincere sympathy in the death of your mother. We were sorority sisters at Chapel Hill and I have many wonderful memories of those days. She was great.
Carolyn Harrill Testerman
Rogersville, TN 37857
Jean was a Tri Delt sorority sister whom I am so grateful to have seen in April in Lexington, Va., when our group met for a house party. To Anne and Kate and the grandchildren, my husband Richard and I send our deepest sympathy. Jean will be very much missed. Barbara Nolan
Anne, So sorry to hear about your mother. You and yours are in my thoughts and prayers.
Judy
To the Roberts Family:
Jean was my patient at the MAHEC Family Health Center for 4 years after Dr Cannon left in summer 03, and before I retired 6/15/07.
I really enjoyed having Jean as a patient, because of her upbeat and congenial attitude. She always acted like she did not have the significant health issues which she had. Part of that might have been denial; but mostly I think she just had a really positive attitude about life, so that she couldn’t help acting as if she didn’t have much in the way of problems. She also had a really great sense of humor, and laughed a lot at office visits. We enjoyed kidding each other. She brought joy to my life.
So, thanks for letting me enjoy Jean as a patient for 4 years, and please except my sincere condolences.
Sincerely,
David Mouw MD, PhD
Dear Anne – I was so sorry to read of your mother’s passing. I never had the pleasure of meeting her but, of course, your father was a legend in the legal community here. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers, and we hope that your memories of family will sustain you in the coming months. Hope to see you soon at the ‘Y’ –
Your friends, Cynthia, Kathy and Sara.
Kate,
We were so sorry to hear about your mom. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
The LaSure’s
Mrs. Roberts was a lovely person who I enjoyed visiting with each summer at our neighborhood get togethers. Her positive, joyful disposition always made our conversations such a pleasure. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Kate- You and your family are in my
thoughts and prayers. May God’s peace and love be with you in the days to come.
Traci Silver and Family
Kate, I’m so sorry to hear about your Mother’s passing. My heart goes out to you and your family. You’re in my thoughts.
Kate, We are so very sorry to hear of your mother’s death. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are for you and your family.
You are always in my thoughts and my memories of Mr. Landon and Ms. Jean are precious. I cherish them.
Dear Kate and Anne,
I was so sorry to hear of the passing of your mother. I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but I have heard nothing but wonderful things about her commitment to her family and community. Knowing both of you gives me insight into the loving, caring person that she must have been. May God give you peace and comfort in the difficult times ahead.
Sincerely,
Sana Efird
Kate & Anne, Please accept our condolences for the loss of your mother. She was a great lady and will be sorely missed. We have fondest of memories of both Landon & Jean. You and your families will be in our hearts & prayers during this difficult time.
Phil & Jean Elam
Kate & Anne,
I’m so sorry to hear about your mother. I have many fond memories of her that span my entire life. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dear Roberts Family, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to each of you. Although we are not acquainted personally, we share the pain of losing a loved one in death. And when it happens, the thought of never again being able to talk to, laugh with, or hold our loved ones can be most difficult to bear. A key to enduring this suffering is knowing that the Bible teaches that ‘there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous’ (Acts 24;15), our loved ones sleeping in the graves will soon come forth and have the opportunity to live forever under peaceful conditions right here on earth. (John 5;28,29; Rev. 21;3,4; Pslam 83;18) While grief at the loss of Jean is great, joy at receiving Jean in the resurrection will be greater. (Mark 5;42) May you find comfort as you read God’s loving promises during this difficult time and the days to come. Take care,
Anne and Kate,
I haven’t seen you all in a long time. I remember the times we spent with Kitty in Gastonia and with you all in Asheville. I remember Jean as such a cheerful and loving person, so full of personality! She is with the Lord now, there could be nothing better..but I know you miss her. My sympathy goes out to you all.
Sandra Watson Klyn
Anne & Kate,
Please know that you are in our (McMahon’s all) prayers and we extend our most sincere condolences at the passing of your Mother. I spoke with Bea, Anne, I hope she has had an opportunity to speak with you. Your Mother was such a vibrant, wonderful person. I loved her smile and her distinctive laugh. We love you and hold you both close in our prayers.
Tommy and Susan
Kate,
Just wanted you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Saundi Theodossiou and family
How fast the memories flood into my mind as I think of the things our two families did with each other and laughed over…the Halloween parties, my babysitting days and the crazy times our parents had trying to be ‘one up’ on each other. Never a dull moment on Holmwood Road/Evergreen Lane! I know the four parents are having a wonderful reunion. Marshall is an acolyte in a wedding on Saturday and that will keep us from being with you and giving you a hug. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Let us all remember the times of laughter…and not the ones of tears. With all my love,
DeeDee Morrison Acee
Kate and Anne:
I know you will miss your wonderful Mother. What a great,spunky lady! My best memories of her will always be her story telling, interjected around Daddy Landon’s story telling! And also what a superb hostess and hospitable true Southern lady she was! My heart goes out to both of her girls, and the grandchildren,too. I hope to hug you both at the memorial service. Love, Meredith
Kate, We are so sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. You are certainly in our thoughts and prayers. We wish so much that we were closer so we could help out in some way. Please give a big hug and kiss to Riley and Landon from us. Love, Donna, Rusty Emma & Isabel
Lots of love to all of Jean’s family-Jean was such a special Tri Delta friend for fifty eight years!!We have loved having our many reunions and Jean always attended. It was so wonderful to see her in Lexington,Va. this April and we shall miss her so, so much!! Patty&Lester Brooks
Dear Anne,
I am very sorry for your loss. Try to remember that your mother is now fully reunited with your brother and father.