ROBERTS, DEBORAH JANE - Webster County, Louisiana | DEBORAH JANE ROBERTS - Louisiana Gravestone Photos

Deborah Jane ROBERTS

Pleasant Valley Cemetery
Webster County,
Louisiana

July 2, 1953 - January 15, 2014

Shreveport, LA - In a stunning victory of life over death, God tenderly gathered Deborah into his arms in the early morning on Wednesday, January 15, 2014. She is at peace today from the cancer, which overwhelmed her body.

She left us the gift of memories of her spirit: a stalwart love and commitment of self for family, friends and faith; a creative mind who loved books, music, cooking and entertaining; a talented and wise businesswoman who was a successful CPA, a fun-loving companion, and a truth-teller who expected the truth from others. Her life made a difference and changed all of us who knew her.

Deborah Jane Smith Roberts was born on July 2, 1953 in Minden, Louisiana. She graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in 1974. She was a bold, adventurous woman who loved traveling and still aspired to live in Provence or Tuscany for a year. She had a remarkable memory for names, faces and stories; she loved people. There were so many facets in her life, which included being a private investigator, a Girl Scout leader for the “Rat Pack,” and even breeding and showing Polish Lowland Sheepdogs. Deborah was a strong supporter of women and women’s rights. She was one of the first women CPA’s in Louisiana.

She loved her community and was a leader by spirit or title in all of the organizations she joined. She was President of the Board for the Montessori School for Shreveport, active in the YWCA, the Shreveport/Bossier Choral Ensemble, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Twentieth Century Club, and certainly in First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport. Most of all, she loved her family, keeping relationships as her first priority. Deborah loved fiercely and unconditionally.

The family will receive visitors from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 17th at Osborn Funeral Home. The service will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 18th at 10:00 in the morning with the burial to follow at the Pleasant Valley Methodist Church Cemetery (16835 Highway 371, Minden, LA 71055). Officiating will be Dr. Chris Currie and Rev. Sarah Cooper Searight.

Her father, Jack R. Smith, and her mother, Faye Smith, preceded her in death.

She is survived by her husband of 28 years, Stephen G. Roberts Sr. and their daughter, Mackenzie Roberts. Additionally, she is survived by step-daughters: Emily Roberts Lewis (Kevin) and Catherine Goerner Hall (Beau); and step-sons: Stephen G. Roberts, Jr., Patrick Hobby Roberts (Courtney) and Phillip Goerner (Kathleen). Ten grandchildren called her Dee Dee. She has a sister, Janice Smith Allison, a brother, Jack R. Smith Jr. (Donna), and an adoring mother-in-law, Enid Bott Roberts.

The pallbearers for her service will be: John Kinnebrew, Charles Black, Perry Pringle, Ron Roberts, John Herzog, Harry Truslow, Orlando McDay, Dee Peterson, J. Vern Williams, Doug Thompson, Kerry Gordon and Leslie Johnson. The honorary pallbearers will be The Shreveport/Bossier Choral Ensemble and Circle #7 of First Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Northwest Louisiana (2015 Fairfield Avenue, Suite 2C, Shreveport, La 71104) or to the Pleasant Valley Methodist Church Cemetery Fund (16835 Highway 371, Minden, LA 71055).

Contributed on 1/9/23 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 407358

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Submitted: 1/9/23 • Approved: 1/10/23 • Last Updated: 1/13/23 • R407358-G407358-S3

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