Mary Roberts

1941 - 2025

Mary Ann Deakins Roberts, 83, of Elon passed away on August 11, 2025 in Greensboro.

Mary Ann was born in Johnson City, Tennesee. She attended Mount Pisgah Academy in Candler, NC and went on to earn a BA degree in English from Southern College of Collegedale, TN, where she met her future husband, David. They were married in 1964 and moved to Berlin, Germany where David served as dentist and officer in the US Army for several years. Upon return to the US, they lived in Gibsonville, NC where they had a son, David Jr.

A lifelong Seventh Day Adventist, Mary Ann was curious, down to earth and unpretentious. She loved to read and enjoyed skiing and hiking with her family. When gas prices spiked in the 70s she bought a motorcycle and took up touring, including a cross-county trip into western US and Canada with her young son and camping gear on the back of her trusty BMW, as well as other two-wheeled trips with the family to maritime Canada and the Great Lakes.

In the 80s Mary Ann returned to higher education at Elon College, obtaining BS degrees in Biology, Chemistry, and Cytotechnology. She went on to receive a master's in Neuroscience from East Tennessee State University and carried out doctoral neuroscience research at Wake Forest University.

After the death of her mother, for whom she was providing care, at the age of 60, Mary Ann was rebaptized in her Seventh-Day Adventist faith. She became a renowned evangelist and for nearly two decades made numerous mission trips to countries on five different continents, speaking before large crowds and making many friends and converts around the world. She sponsored public works projects and helped establish a school in Ethiopia, health clinics and a large radio station in the Congo.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David; her mother, Margaret; and her father, Ben. She is lovingly remembered by her son David and daughter-in-law Margaret of Asheboro, NC; her granddaughter Fiona of Asheboro, NC; and her brothers Danny of Tucson, AZ and Joe of Mebane, NC, as well as sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday August 24th at 2:00 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 3:00 p.m., at the Greensboro Seventh-Day Adventist Church at 1320 Fleming Road. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders and the Adventist Disaster Relief Agency.