Jewel S. Roberts, 82, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Monday, July 7, 2014, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held 2 PM, Thursday, July 10, 2014, at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald with the Rev. Dr. Mike Ruffin and the Rev. Dewain Joiner officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 Wednesday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mrs. Roberts was born November 16, 1931 in Berrien County, Georgia, to the late Charlie N. and Juanita Jenkins Stephens. She had lived in the community since 1953. She was a former substitute teacher for the Fitzgerald City School System and a former nurse and switchboard operator for the Ben Hill County Hospital. She was a former member of the Junior Women’s Club and the Green Thumb Gardening Club. Mrs. Roberts also worked at the welcome center at the Agrirama in Tifton and the Turkey Creek Development for ACR Realty. She was a homemaker and enjoyed yard work. Mrs. Roberts was a member of the First Baptist Church of Fitzgerald, where she sang in the choir and was a member of the Dorcas Sunday school class.
She is survived by her two sons: Leo Roberts, Jr. and Lydia of Fitzgerald and Clint Roberts of Fitzgerald; a daughter: Stephanie and Johnny C. Pope, Sr. of Fitzgerald; grandchildren: Sabrina Pope Weeks & Justin of Tifton, Brandon Roberts & Brittney of Midland, Texas, Johnny C. Pope, Jr. & his fiancé Madison O’Neal of Fitzgerald, Jobeth Toler & Jesse of Hazlehurst, Jenalea Diaz & Donald of Fitzgerald, Robert Stephen Pope of Fitzgerald, Jahyna Elizabeth Pope of Fitzgerald and Clayton Roberts of Fitzgerald; nine great-grandchildren; a sister: Jeanette & Frank Cleghorn of Albany; and a sister-in-law: Nell Stephens of Fitzgerald. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband: Leo Roberts, Sr.; and siblings: Quinton Stephens, Donald Stephens, Hugh Dorsey Stephens, and Frances Teams.