Service Announcements

Mr. Rodolphus Roberson 99 of Matthews, NC passed away March 18, 2025 at Terrabella Assisted Living Center Monroe, NC. Private service

The precious gift of life was given to Rodolphus Roberson on October 30, 1925, Waynesboro, Burke County GA. His transition to a better life began on Tuesday, March 18, 1925 at Terrabella Assisted Living in Monroe, NC.  He was the son of the late Mr. Willie Roberson and Mrs. Essie Dukes Roberson. He was married to Anna Sherard Roberson for 42 years until her death in 1995.

His greatest attribute was his generosity. Even though he spent most of his life just talking about himself (and Active Service), it didn’t stop him from financially helping others. He was still giving out money while in the nursing home. When he was moved to memory care he would say he has never been so broke and was upset he had no money to give the nurses.

HIS-STORY

According to Rodolphus’ account of his life, being raised in a farming community

in Millen Georgia was rough. He frequently worked long hours from sun up to

sun down. Schooling was a hit or missed adventure; mostly missed. Growing

tired of what he deemed was his future, he developed a plan. So at seventeen,

(about 1942) he ran away to Augusta (about 50 miles north of Millen) where he

lived with an aunt and uncle.

After about a year, he migrated to a small farming community in Bridgeton,

New Jersey. The only available work for a young person of color and limited

education was more farming and working in munition factories in support of

the war effort (World War II). Being introduced to new happenings such as the

Jazz Age with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Josephine Baker performing

was very enlightening for a country boy. Listening to baseball teams with the

Pittsburgh Pirates, the New York Giants and the Chicago White Sox might

explain his love of baseball to the point of another move. Somewhere near

Christmas of 1945, Rodolphus moved again, this time to Chicago, IL (Evanston).

In Evanston he began driving trucks for a small scavenger trucking company driving tractors.  That small company later became the Active Service Corporation. His experience in driving and leadership helped him to become the supervisor of other drivers. The four trucks through the years grew to forty trucks with him as the manager.

During those early years, he met and married Anna Sherard. With this union they raised a family of seven children. After too many years of harsh weather and hard work, Rodolphus decided it was time for retirement. In January of 1988, he retired from the Active Service  Corporation after forty two years of service.  Six years later he and Anna relocated to  their retirement home in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Unfortunately, Anna passed away one year later. Once in Stone Mountain a neighbor got Rodolphus  to join the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia, Georgia. In addition, he joined an in-house group of men known as the Metropolitan Atlanta Brotherhood Association of which he was the treasurer. They played Bid Whist every week, gave out scholarships to graduating high school seniors and regularly took trips to the big casinos in Mississippi and other places. At the end of the Covid pandemic he sold his home in Stone Mountain and moved back to Evanston, Illinois. For the past two years, until his demise, he resided in Charlotte, NC.

He leaves behind his children: Patricia Barber, David Roberson, Sharon Coleman (Gregory), Kimberly Roberson, Glenn Roberson, Kerry Roberson and Carol Sherard. 7 Grandchildren: Michael Roberson, Frank Barber Jr. (Rebel), Bryan Coleman, Lauren Coleman, Ronnie Coleman (Carol), Lathan Wood (Kelli) and Ashley Wood. 8 great grandchildren. Sister Dorothy Cooper (Rudolph) and brother Roosevelt Roberson. Sister-in-law, Eddie Lee Gray. Special nieces: Alice France, Harriet Dunbar Geneva Walker, Eleanor Dixon, Ruth Taylor, Betty Montgomery, Cynthia Aiken and Michele Edelman. Host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.