Patricia Ann Roberts

Patricia Ann Roberts, Weeping Willow or affectionately known as “Nana” stepped behind the veil on Sunday, February 02, 2020 in National City, CA. The trailblazer, traveler, advocate, activist, loving mother and grandma battled a serious kidney infection that took an unforeseen toll on her body. She was born on April 17, 1942 in Washington, D.C. to Robert “Bob” and Anna Bell Roberts. Patricia had one sister and two brothers. Betty Jean who passed in her infancy, Robert Roberts Jr. and Edward Roberts-El (both deceased). She also had a niece Kathy Colbert (Roberts) who was raised just like a sister to her.

Patricia was raised on M Street NW Washington D.C. She was baptized and attended Greater New Hope Baptist Church with her family almost every Sunday. In 1960, she graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and to obtain a greater position in life, she decided to take college classes in stenography and early childhood/special education at Montgomery and Federal City Colleges respectively. She was an avid reader always yearning for a new adventure.

With her educational background in stenography, she began working in the late sixties as one of the only African American women at the main U.S. Post Office on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington D.C. While working there, she became one of the first African American women featured on the cover of the U.S. Postal Magazine. During the seventies, she moved to the Wilshire District in Los Angeles where she truly enjoyed the Cali life! Nonetheless, not even the beautiful sunsets of Venice could keep her from the next adventure. She came back to D.C. where her entrepreneurial spirit led her to start a mobile skate rental business called Go-Skate which drove all throughout the city providing skates, music and fun to all.

Patricia loved to watch movies, dance, party, shop, eat delicious food and simply enjoy the good life! Traveling the world was one of her biggest passions! Some of her favorite places were in the Caribbean and Africa. As her business proved successful, Patricia felt she needed to reconnect with herself on a spiritual level. She decided to take a trip to the Philippines where she ended up staying awhile. She studied many different religions and new ways of living through meditation, eating right and nourishing oneself spiritually through metaphysics.

In the fall of 81’ her son Alexander was born in Washington D.C. She was a loving, kind and gentle mother but firm when she needed to be. In 1982, she joined the DC Government as an Educational Specialist for the DC Educational Institution Licensure Commission and later went over to the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. In the early nineties, she became more aware of the injustices and inequities in the criminal justice system. Wanting to affect the system from within, she joined the DC Department of Corrections as a training development specialist to create curriculum and deliver training to its employees. During this phase in her life Patricia hit some bumps in the road which brought her back to metaphysics. Soon after she found a church home for herself and son at the Unity Center of Truth. She retired from D.C. Corrections in 2003.

In the mid-late nineties, Patricia moved to Riggs Park to care for her mother. While there she became a broader part of the community, and like her mother, she wanted to affect change. It wasn’t until 2007, when Patricia took her community activism a step further by deciding to run for public office. She was elected twice to serve as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) for Single Member District 5A-01 (formally 5A-02) and was appointed to the Mayor’s 1st Commission on Caribbean Community Affairs. As ANC, she advocated tirelessly for the citizens of the community on many issues from multi-million-dollar development plans in the community to potholes on the street; she addressed them all and loved to hold people accountable. She re-established block captains, organized block clean-up days and delivered annual community picnics called “meet-n-greets” geared toward bringing neighbors closer together.

Fun fact: Patricia was on the same ballot as former President Obama. She was running for ANC Commissioner as he was making his historic run for the highest office in the land. She also volunteered for his campaign.

Patricia also created the Emerald Alliance which was a resident-owned, Local Small Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (LSDBE) promoting business development and financial empowerment with a focus in-part on African American businesses doing business in the community. Patricia was also a member of Thrift Chapter No. 12 Order of the Eastern Star - Prince Hall Affiliation in Washington DC.

Concerned with her health after being diagnosed with colon cancer in 2005, she became a member of the Holistic Health Practitioners Alliance which is dedicated to alternative health and wellness practices. She advocated for the Hallelujah Diet which is a raw foods diet and two-years later she was cancer-free.

In 2012, her son fell in love and decided to move to San Diego. With Alexander’s blessing and encouragement she joined him in Cali. Not able to sit down and do nothing, she actively involved herself in her new community at Paradise Village where she used the culmination of her life’s experiences and love of traveling to become a volunteer Travel Coordinator. Serving in this role she planned and organized several successful trips to various places throughout San Diego County and beyond. In addition, Patricia joined the "Red Hatters" which are part of the larger Red Hat Society, an international women organization focused on "fun, friendship, freedom, fulfillment of lifelong dreams and fitness". She was donned as the Lady of Inspiration. Patrica also enjoyed being a grandmother.

She is survived by her son and his wife Alexander and Janine Roberts; three grandchildren, Mariah, Christian, and Carter; sister in-law, Denise Jefferson-Roberts; 8 nieces and 2 nephews, Kathy, Mark, Sharon (Deceased), Kimberly, Edward Jr., Patricia E., Ericka, Ann Margaret, Amethyst and Jian; 20 great nieces and nephews and a host of great-greats. She also had a number of friends who were near and dear to her heart.