Roberta Mae Carroll

Roberta Mae (Thomas) Carroll confidently went to her final resting place on June 19, 2021. Roberta, born on March 2, 1917 to Clifford Adell Thomas, Sr. and Annie Mae (Josselet) Thomas, was one of eight children. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers (John, Adell, Clifford, Lewis and Raymond Lee) and by her sisters (Helen and Marie).

Roberta was called by many names in her life (Berta Mae, Berta, Bert to name a few) but the names she valued most were Mother, Grandma, Great Grandma, and Great-Great Grandma. Just to mention one of these names would bring a smile to her face.

Mother is survived by her four children, Jean Taylor, Sandra Blair, Jerry Bass (Lana), and Wayne Watts (Billie), twelve grandchildren (Sherry, Bobby, Darrell, Vivian, Bruce, Abron, Gary, Dana, Brittani, Jared, Jeb, and Jacob; 26 great grandchildren, and 19 great great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mother would be the first to admit that while she never had a lot of possessions, she was always rich in what mattered most: family, faith, friends, and more love than any person deserved. She felt always blessed by God. She read her Bible every day and, even at 104, read it without glasses. She had a simple philosophy of life - work hard, do what has to be done, and do what is right.

Mother was an avid gardener, could cook and spread a family meal that would cover the table, sewed everything from quilts to doll clothes to bridesmaid dresses, never forgot a birthday, and kept a montage of family photos for all to see. She was a strong, independent woman all her life, and in many ways, a woman ahead of her time. She loved to laugh, especially telling funny stories about herself. Even at 104 she could tell a good joke, remarking shortly before her death that it has taken her so long to get to heaven that her family probably thought she had gone to hell.

Mother will be remembered for her unfailing and unconditional love for those who were “hers,” and her unflinching faith in God, her appreciation for every minute of life, and the fearless and cheerful way she faced death, always sure of the outcome of that last journey. Her lessons of life, always taught by example not words, will be remembered long after her physical passing.

Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church, Forney Texas at 10 a.m. on Monday June 28, 2021, to be followed immediately thereafter by the funeral service at 11 a.m. at the Church. A graveside service for the family will be held that afternoon at Laurel Land Memorial Park. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to First Baptist Church, Forney Texas.