Betty H. Roberson-Thomas

The celebration of life service for Betty H. Roberson Thomas of Gadsden, AL. will be Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at Collier Butler Funeral Home with Rev. Bart Watts and Rev. Larry Fuhrman officiating. Our family will receive friends from 12:00p.m.-2:00p.m. with the service following afterward. A private burial service at Rainbow Memorial Gardens will follow. Our mother passed away on December 31, 2020 at the age of 89 surrounded by her loving family. Our mother was born in Gadsden during the Great Depression, the 7th of 8 children, to Louie and Ethel Humphries. This time period greatly influenced her entire life! She graduated from Gadsden High School in 1949, and then attended Jacksonville State University, earning a B.S. degree in Education. She also earned a Master’s and AA degree in Educational Leadership from UAB. She had a 33-year career with the Etowah County School System, 3 years teaching at Etowah High School, 30 years administration in the Etowah County School’s (ECS) central office. She is most remembered for her accomplishments as the K-12 English Coordinator for the county school system. In 1974, she pioneered the ECS Drama Festival as an artistic outlet for the students of Etowah County Schools. This led to the creation of the Invitational Drama Festival and Skit Competitions at Gadsden State Community College, Creative Writing and Art Competitions that were showcased within the Gadsden Mall. These events allowed students to gain experience, confidence and also an opportunity to earn college scholarships. During the 1970s, she helped launch the Educational TV Program/CLC for all ECS students. Our mother’s other accomplishments include: Title I and IX Coordinator, textbook adoption, student-teacher placement, professional development and teacher in-service. She also taught English and Literature classes, at night, at Gadsden State and Snead State for 10 years, as well Saturday classes at Northeast Community College in Rainsville. Her work ethic and commitment to ECS, her students, her children, her husband, and her extended family, were motivated and fueled by her deep faith and love!

Along with her accomplishments in her beloved profession, she played the piano for many years at her home church, Edgewood Baptist, where she was a charter member. She enjoyed her years as an Altrusa Club and Delta Kappa Gamma member, along with many other professional organizations. Our mother was a voracious reader, loved Auburn Football and enjoyed travelling to various U.S. cities, Central America and Europe. Somehow, Mom, along with her best friend, Aunt Amy, found time, every summer, to take the four of us and our cousins, Susan, Bill, & David, swimming at Lake Rhea and Greensport...complete with homemade picnic lunches. Our families also grilled out and made homemade ice cream frequently during the summers. Dad manned the grill and the kids got to hand-crank the ice cream freezer.

Our mother ensured that we were introduced to the arts via piano lessons, voice lessons, band, church choir, attending “The Shakespeare Festival”, watching reel-to-reel movies on our kitchen table of Shakespeare plays, Greek Mythology, Our Town, and Great Expectations. It was important to mother that we were also involved in team sports, and she and Dad always made a way for us to do so. Both Mom and Dad expected us to finish what we started, thus teaching us a strong work ethic, personal responsibility, commitment and teamwork.

She had the patience of Job, the determination of a great leader, the internal and quiet strength of a saint, the wisdom of Solomon and the love of Christ! Mom was also warm, witty, and articulate. She always saw the good in other people and in every situation. She had the heart of a teacher...patient, kind, compassionate, positive, encouraging, energetic, determined, persistent, and eternally hopeful. She had a heart for The Lord and a hand to man. She was our rock!

Most importantly, our mother made sure that we knew The Lord and that we were always involved in our church. We often gathered around the piano, at home, while mom played, our Dad would help us follow the music in the hymnal. These are precious memories to us, and we have peace knowing that she is helping with God’s Heavenly Choir. Our loss is Heaven’s gain! Mom finished well...she “fought the good fight, finished her race and kept the faith!”

She is preceded in death by her Husband: Jack Vance Roberson, Sr.,

Parents: Louie C. & Ethel P. Humphries, Sister’s & Brother-In-Law’s: Mildred (L.D.) Williams, Sue (Parham) Booker, Virginia (Ralph) Watts

Brothers and Sister-In Law: Chester (Jo) Humphries, Robert (Zel) Humphries;

John Thomas Humphries

She is survived by her children: Denise R. (Steve) Bryant, J. Vance (Remona) Roberson, Jr., Marsha R. (Eric) Tucker, John (Martha) Roberson.

Grandchildren: Nathan (Janae) Bryant, Heather B. (Dan) Dougherty, Cherie B. (Wes) Ware, Candace B. (Jason) Griffith, Bonnie Claire R. (Bryan) Northcutt, Jack V. (Marjorie) Roberson, III, Natalie R. (John) Vedder, Michael Tucker, Katherine Tucker, John A. Roberson, Sarah Beth Roberson, William Roberson.

Her beloved brother, Bill Humphries, and sister-in-law, Rosamond (Tommy) Humphries.

She was blessed with a host of 25 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great Great-Grandchildren, and many special nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers: Nathan Bryant, John A. Roberson, Michael Tucker, Jack V. Roberson, III., William Roberson, and William A. Humphries, Jr.

Our family would like to thank the Emergency Room Medical Staff at Gadsden Regional Hospital for the loving care you gave to our mother and family during her time with you.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to: Edgewood Baptist Church

1727 Mt. Zion Ave., Gadsden, AL 35904