John David Roberts, Jr., 78, of Fitzgerald, died Monday, March 21, 2016, at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton.
Funeral services will be held 2 PM, Thursday, March 24, 2016, at Christian Fellowship with the Rev. Rex Johnson officiating. Kelli Roberts Craig will give the eulogy. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Wednesday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Roberts was born July 1, 1937, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, to the late John David & Mona Thornton Roberts. He was a 1956 graduate of Fitzgerald High School and served his country honorably in the United States Air Force. He worked for 20 years in maintenance at Shaw Industries. Mr. Roberts was a delivery driver for Brooks Auto Parts NAPA as well as Bumper-to-Bumper. He loved watching NASCAR and drag racing and enjoyed football. He had a nickname for everybody and will be remembered as a loving husband and father. Mr. Roberts was a member of Christian Fellowship.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Annette Bowen Roberts of Fitzgerald; his children: Josh McClelland & Gina Thompson of Fitzgerald, Denise Roberts of Ocilla, and Kim Roberts Youngblood of Tifton; grandchildren: Christina McClelland and her fiancé Michael Wise, Joshua McClelland, Garrett Burch, Deanna Thompson, Brandi & David Pendergrass, John Evan Smith, Dwayne & Ashley Youngblood, and Brooke Youngblood; great-grandchildren: Gage Stubbs, Emma Jane Smith, Alivia Smith, Kristopher Smith, John David Smith, Hayden Dennard, Cameron Youngblood, and Payne Youngblood; siblings and their spouses: W.M. “Bill” Roberts of Fitzgerald, Joan & Wayne Register of O’Brien, Florida, Tommy L. & Sharon Roberts of Fitzgerald; Jimmy L. & Debbie Roberts of Fitzgerald; and Kathryn Skuza of Fitzgerald; an uncle, Archie Thornton of Miami, Florida; as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Jeff Youngblood.