Vesta Imogene Roberts

Vesta “Imogene” Roberts, 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on January 12, 2013, in Clearwater, Florida. She was preceded in death by her husband Kindol E. Roberts; her parents Charles and Lucy (Chapman) Vinson; her brothers Thomas Vinson, Henry Vinson, and Wallace Vinson; and her sisters Eloise Vinson Wamble, Charlene Vinson Butts, Sarah Vinson Daniel, and Frances Vinson. Imogene is survived by her son Edwin Lynn Roberts and his wife Teri, of Belleair Bluffs, Florida; her nieces Janet Butts Fly, Barbara Wamble Neill, and Karen Vinson Griffin; and her nephews Kenneth Vinson and Michael Vinson Butts. She leaves behind 11 grandnieces and grandnephews and many other family members and special friends, including sisters-in-law Irene Vinson, Annita Applewhite, Beedie Sullivan, Hilda Roberts, and Grace Starkey.

Imogene was born October 23, 1920, in Hardeman County, Tennessee, in a two-story cabin off Hatchie Station Road, and grew up on a large farm in Madison County near Mercer. She graduated from Mercer High School, and then Business School in Brownsville. Imogene married Kindol on February 19, 1942. They lived in Gulfport, Mississippi; in Memphis, Tennessee; and on Highway 100 near Toone, Tennessee. After Kindol died in May 1984, Imogene had a home built in Cloverport, where she lived until moving to the Clearwater, Florida, area three years ago to be near Lynn and Teri. Imogene worked as a civilian for the Army and the Air Force and retired from the IRS. She was a member of the Cloverport Baptist Church and a former member of Berclair Baptist Church in Memphis.

A few of Imogene’s passions were cooking and baking for her family and friends, writing letters to them, and having them visit her. She traveled with Kindol to 47 of the lower 48 states in a travel trailer or motorhome, making many good friends across the country. In later years she traveled with church and other travel groups to Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, the Holy Land, Egypt, England, Scotland, Switzerland, and other places.

Not long after Imogene’s move to Florida, some of her aches and pains just seemed to go away. Other problems would appear at times, but her resilience, determination, and patience amazed people. Imogene, Lynn, Teri, and their special friend and caregiver Ellen Brown had many loving, joyful times together in Florida. Imogene was visited by several people almost every day. She enjoyed going outside with her family and friends, and sitting in the courtyard gazebo watching people and activity around her.

Imogene’s warm personality and heart of love were shown in her constant and unfailing love for Kindol, Lynn, and Teri; her sacrificial love for her sister Frances; her love for her family and Kindol’s family; and her love for her pastor and his wife, Kevin and Brenda Parsons. Imogene was a great lady and a blessing to many people throughout her life.

She had the spiritual gift of a giving heart. Her faith in God was very strong and her loyalty to His church and its mission was a mainstay of her life.

Services will be at Shackelford Funeral Home in Bolivar, Tennessee, at 11 am

Friday, January 18, 2013, followed by interment at 1:30 pm at Memphis Memory Gardens, 6444 Raleigh Lagrange Road in Memphis. Visitation will be 5-7 pm Thursday, January 17.

Memorial donations in Imogene’s name may be made to the Cloverport Baptist Church or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center.

Condolences may be offered at www.mossfeaster.com