Jane Roberts

ROBERTS, Jane Martin, passed away, at her home in Westminster Canterbury, Richmond, on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. Mrs. Roberts and her husband moved there in 2005 after living on Hawthorne Avenue in Ginter Park for 56 years. She is survived by her husband, John W. Roberts, her two children, John Martin Roberts of Richmond and Joan Roberts Cates and son-in-law, Ward Cates, of Chapel Hill, N.C. Jane's brother, John L. Martin, resides in Media, Pa. and her older daughter, Nancy Pope predeceased her in 1995. Surviving grandchildren are John P. Pope and his wife, Dawn, of Midlothian, Va., Deborah Cates Knighton and her husband, Tim, of Richmond, David N. Pope and his wife, Katharine, of Concord, N.C., and Sarah Cates Parker and her husband, Andrew, of Durham, N.C. Surviving great-grandchildren are Grace, Ryan, Patrick, and Kathleen Pope of Midlothian, Charles and Henry Knighton of Richmond, Elizabeth Jane, and Dylan Pope of Concord, and Kate and Addison Margaret Parker of Durham. Jane was born in Buffalo, N.Y. on July 26, 1917. She was raised in Philadelphia and Chester, Pa. and graduated from Swarthmore College, class of 1939, with a major in economics and a minor in political science. She met her future husband there, and they married on December 2, 1939 in her parents' home in Chester. In 2009, they celebrated their 70th anniversary with all their family present at Westminster Canterbury. After coming to Richmond in 1940, she made her life one of loving devotion to family and of unflagging volunteer service to others. Her warm, caring personality and capable leadership were balm and beacon to all she met. Her early involvement was with Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church where she was one of the first women Elders and served until 2001. She also served as deacon, chairman of the women of the church, and parliamentarian and advisor for a number of years, teacher and strategic planner for the Sunday school, and choir member. After the children were grown, she turned down invitations to return to the choir because she said, "I want to sit with my husband in church." She later represented Grace Covenant on the Board of Mission Court as chairman for a number of years. Jane was also active in politics, becoming chairman of the Richmond branch, American Association of University Women, and she co-chaired a study of the pros and cons of jury duty for women. This resulted in enactment of the right for Virginia women to serve on juries. Later, in the 1960s, she became vice-chairman of the City Democratic Committee. Early on, Jane was instrumental in obtaining the first music teacher at a local elementary school. With a continuing interest in education, Jane served as interviewer for Swarthmore College which she represented at the inauguration of Ladell Payne as president of Randolph-Macon College. She and her husband have supported not only Swarthmore College, but also VMI with professorships in Free Enterprise Economics and Free Enterprise Business. Jane served on the board of Grace House as chairman of the Personnel Committee. She served the Ginter Park Women's Club as parliamentarian. As a strong, forward-thinking member of the Richmond Women's Club Board, she was involved with the Personnel Committee and the restoration of its Bolling Haxall House, and was also an early champion of its Foundation. During her 35-year volunteer involvement at Retreat Hospital, she served in a number of capacities from admittance to president of the board. During this time, the hospital building was expanded, adjacent properties were purchased, facilities were modernized, and the first hospice was opened in Richmond. This was especially important to her. A cardiopulmonary center became operational and the hospital name was changed from Retreat for the Sick. Jane was proud that Retreat was known for excellent nursing care. Another longtime beneficiary of her concern for others has been Westminster Canterbury, where she served for many years on the board and the Foundation Board. Because of her high sense of purpose and priorities, she was awarded the Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service. Her father, Major Frank L. Martin (USMC), taught physics, civil engineering, and astronomy at Pennsylvania Military College for 37 years. Her mother, Annabelle Ward Martin, graduated from Philadelphia's Hahnemann Nursing College in 1911. Jane's father's parents were Luther Martin and Emma Jane Bartee Martin, both of Portsmouth, Va. Luther was an officer and carpenter for 37 years, U.S. Navy. Jane's mother's parents were Harry Paris Ward and Annabella Hamilton Ward of Philadelphia. Harry was a decorative plasterer and owned a paper hanging concern. Annabella was the daughter of Irish famine immigrants. Jane Martin Roberts will be missed for her constant and earnest devotion to family, her cheerful voice, her steady counsel, and her confidence and encouragement toward those she loved so deeply. She will remain ever in spirit as loving guide to our paths and our challenges in the world. A funeral service will be held at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1627 Monument Ave., Richmond, Va., at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 20. Interment will follow in Hollywood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Bliley's - Central, 3801 Augusta Ave., on Monday, April 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.