Elizabeth Whitley Roberson, age 86, formerly of Williamston, North Carolina, passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s Junior College in Raleigh, attended the Medical College of Richmond, Virginia, received a B.S. Degree in Education from East Carolina University, a Masters Degree in Education from ECU and a Masters Degree in History from ECU.

Elizabeth was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church of Williamston, where she sang in the choir for many years, taught Bible Class, served on various committees and also served as church historian. As church historian, she also wrote two books about the First United Methodist Church of Williamston.

An avid historian, Elizabeth wrote articles for many publications, including “Our State Magazine” and “The Enterprise of Williamston.” She also wrote the books “Weep Not for Me, Dear Mother,” “In Care of Yellow River,” and “Tiny Broadwick: First Lady of Parachuting.”

Elizabeth taught for over 28 years in both public and private schools in and around Martin County. As a teacher, she not only focused on educating her students, but also found a great joy in supporting her students both inside and outside of the classroom. Her philosophy as a teacher was “We should learn from the past in order to improve the future.”

Elizabeth also received many honors and awards for her teaching and writing. She was Martin County Teacher of the Year in 1976, Martin County’s Distinguished Woman of the Year for 2002, and Elizabeth Roberson Day was named in her honor in Georgia in 1992.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse Stuart Whitley and Beatrice Benjamin Whitley, siblings Gladys Whitley, Herbert Whitley, and John Whitley, and her daughter Amy Roberson.

She is survived by her children, Beth (Dave) Arner, Beatrice Gorrie, and Anne Jones; four grandchildren, Emily (Johnny) Freeman, Ellen (Ben) Harris, Justin Jones, and Lauren Jones. She is also survived by her five great-grandchildren, Liam, Payton, and Delilah Freeman and Matthew and Ryan Harris.

Visitation will take place at First United Methodist Church of Williamston on March 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. A memorial service celebrating Elizabeth’s life will be held March 2 at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church. The address is 114 E. Church Street, Williamston, North Carolina.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions can be sent to First United Methodist Church of Williamston.