C. Warren Roberts

Funeral services for C. Warren Roberts, former Sheriff of Madison County, will be conducted on Friday, January 2, 2015 at 1 p.m. in the North Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home with Ray Hawk officiating. Interment will follow at Ridgecrest Cemetery. Mr. Roberts died on December 30, 2014 at Jackson Madison County General Hospital.

Active pallbearers to serve will be Jimmy Roberts, Robert Walker, Tony Woods, Mark Caldwell, Larry Ross, and Doug Teague.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Elders of the Campbell Street Church of Christ, All law enforcement officers active and retired, Ike Roland, Palma Downing, Ray Hawk, Walter Finley, Rubert Williams, Larry Strang, Mike Gordon, Lenord Brown, Parnell Landers, and Joe Pentecost.

Mr. Roberts was the son of the late Floyd and Clara Elsie Roberts of Wildersville, TN. Mr. Roberts received his education in the public schools of Henderson County, TN and West Tennessee Business College in Jackson, TN.

Mr. Roberts was married to Virginia Ruth Carnal Roberts, who survives. He is also survived by one son, Charles Timothy (Tim) Roberts and wife, Deborah, and one grandson, Cody Alan Roberts, all of Lexington, TN. One niece, Gail Walker and husband Robert, one nephew Jimmy Roberts and wife Jeannie, and one sister-in-law, Thelma Roberts all of Wildersville, TN.

He is preceded in death by two brothers, John Wilton and James Wesley Roberts. John Wilton Roberts was killed in action in WWII in Italy in 1944.

Mr. Roberts made his home in Jackson since 1945 with the exception of four years while serving in the United States Air Force. During his military career he served as a Criminal Investigator for the Air Provost Marshall’s office and was assigned to the office of special investigation, the FBI of the Air Force.

Mr. Roberts was employed by the Jackson Police Department on July 1, 1949 at the age of 21 years. He served a total of twenty five years and two months with the Police Department. Following retirement from the police department, he was employed by the District Attorney General’s office as Chief Investigator for the late General George W. Hymers. He served in that capacity for four years after which he was elected sheriff of Madison County. Mr. Roberts served four consecutive year terms as Sheriff, being the first Sheriff elected to a four year term, a total of sixteen years. He did not seek a fifth term. Mr. Roberts spent his entire adult life in the field of law enforcement, a total of forty five years and two months and retired on August 31, 1994.

Mr. Roberts attended numerous schools and training seminars which included the Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy in Donaldson, TN, the FBI Academy Command School of Advanced Criminology, the United States Department of Justice Assistance Training Program in Atlanta, GA, the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, United States Department of Justice, Memphis, TN, and the Louisiana District Attorney’s Interrogation training program, New Orleans, LA. He attended the TN Sheriff’s monthly training program held in Nashville and was signed for perfect attendance for sixteen years. He attended many other training programs in the field of Law Enforcement.

Mr. Roberts was a member of TN Sheriff’s Association and served as Vice President. He was a member of TN and MS Peace Officers Association, The Fraternal Order of Police where he held a lifetime membership, lifetime member of the Jackson Police Association, lifetime member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Post 1848. American Legion Post 12, Jackson Lodge 45 Free and Accepted Masons, the Al Chymia Shrine Temple of Memphis, TN. He served as an advisory board member of Families in Action, a group dedicated to reduce the use of harmful drugs, the Jackson Exchange Club for approximately twenty five years and was named Exchangite of the year in 1984. He was appointed to the Advisory Board of Freed Hardeman University in 1995 for a period of five years. He served four years on the TN Law Enforcement Academy Training Board under Governor Lamar Alexander. He also served eight years on the board of TN Correctional Institute under Governor Ned Ray McWherter.

Mr. Roberts was a member of the Campbell Street Church of Christ where he served as deacon for over thirty five years.

Mr. Roberts hobbies consisted of wood working, rook card playing, and fishing. He constructed many beautiful pieces of furniture for his family and friends, such as grandfather clocks, floor mirrors, gun cabinets, dining tables and chairs and many other various items. He enjoyed playing cards with his friends at the Old Hickory Mall. In 1992, he built a cabin overlooking the TN river at Cherokee Heights near Sugartree, TN where he spent much of his time fishing and enjoyed retired life with his family. He loved fishing and was pleased to pass that love to his grandson, Cody who enjoyed fishing with his granddad. They spent many fun times together on the river. Cody and his granddad had a special bond.

The family would like to thank Morningside Assisted Living facility for their love and dedication.

Visitation with Mr. Roberts’ family will be held on Thursday, January 1, 2015 from 4-7 p.m. in the North Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home and again on Friday, January 2, 2015 from 11 a.m. until the funeral hour at 1 p.m. at the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home, (731) 427-5555.