Geneva Culp Roberts

Geneva Culp Roberts was born Feb 5th, 1945 in Great Falls, SC. Her parents were Ellie and Viola Culp. She received Christ as her Lord and Savior early in childhood and was baptized in 1950 at the Paradise African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Great Falls, South Carolina. She attended public schools in Great Falls, SC, graduating high school at the age of 15. She then enrolled in Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC receiving her B.A. degree in English/Elementary Education/Drama with honors. She then returned back to Great Falls, SC to begin her teaching career.
In 1970 she moved to Newark, NJ to continue her teaching career with Newark Public Schools at Camden Street School. In 1973, while there she established and directed a school. She then was transferred to 13th Avenue School, where she served as Vice Principal for over 21 years. She was married June 1977 to Ira J. Roberts, from this union one child was born, Kjel Roberts. She continued her education by earning two Master Degrees from Kean University. In Early Childhood Education in 1983 and Education Administration in 1987. She served as school administrator on the elementary school levels for over 25 years, and rated as a distinguished administrator. University Instructor in 1989 at Kean University (Early Childhood Development-Multicultural Education).
Her last assignment with the Newark Public Schools was Vice Principal of the Alexander Street Annex (Boylan Street) where she retired 2017, ending her professional career with an amazing 47 years. She acknowledged her call into the Gospel Ministry in 1992 and was licensed to preach while attending the Emmanuel Church of Christ by Bishop James D. Churchwell, Sr. She then joined fellowship as an Elder with the Community Church of Faith, Rev. Raymond Andrews. Shortly thereafter the Lord led Rev. Andrews to turn over the pastoral duties to Dr. Roberts. She was then ordained and installed as pastor of the Community Church of Faith by Latter Rain Ministries, Pastor James Carrington Lane in 1995. Community Church of Faith provided annual summer camps that offered education enrichment and actives for children in the community. Most of this outreach was solely financed by Dr. Roberts.
Dr. Robert's was always a strong promoter of continuing education and because of her call she then attended Lake Charles Theological College, Lake Charles, Louisiana and received a Doctorate in Theological Studies and Ethics (2005). In 2018, Dr. Roberts and Community Church of Faith merged with Prophet Terrell Turner (a 13th Ave student) and Kingdom Worship Center, which then became the Kingdom Outreach Community Worship Center. Always looking to advance the church and its mission, in 2022, Dr. Roberts joined Resurrection Church Ministries, Pastor R David Keith. Shortly after uniting with this new church family, she "gifted" the church building to Resurrection in 2024. She told her son Kjel that she wanted to ensure that just as she was "gifted" the church by Rev. Andrews's she wanted to pass it along.
Academic Honors and Awards
Notable Newspaper (Star-Ledger) extensive write up concerning the planting and growing of "Summer Camps" throughout Newark, NJ via proposal writing training of staff and joining camps together for trips, and other activities via Kids Camp (Newark based), Sun Up for food services, etc. Academic and child development camp with strong parent participation.
1. Resolution from the city of Newark, New Jersey commend Geneva Roberts for untiring efforts in numerous contributions to the residence of the city of Newark, March 1997.
2. Resolution from the city of Newark, New Jersey (The Newark Municipal Council) commend Geneva Roberts, for untiring efforts providing educational opportunities for Newark young People and Newark citizens at large, February 2004.
3. Developing great annual programs to explore Dr. Martin Luther King's dream by engaging great speakers (West Point Cadet choirs), etc. for the children and parents in school.
4. Numerous of rewards for workshop and training presentations (teaching and learning) classroom centers, environment – fusing the learning with technology and the arts.
5. Appointed to serve as a chairlady for Councilman George Branch's Civic Association 1998 city of Newark, New Jersey
6. Contacted June 2012 to write a book about Edith Savage Jennings. Wrote a proposal for the book that will uplift the culture of all children in the midst of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as unraveled by Edith Savage Jennings, who traveled side-by-side with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. throughout his life. This is a rare honor.
Professional Affiliations
Member of NAACP
Member of Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Member of Several Faith Based Initiatives
Annual Project
CASA
Lifelong Learners Inc.
Member of ASCD Association
Amistad Commission (State of New Jersey)
She is predeceased by three brothers, Richard Waddell and Charles Culp; two Sisters, Pansy & Candie Culp and stepson, Kenneth Roberts.
She leaves to mourn her son, Kjel Roberts; step children, Ira J. Roberts III, Joanne Roberts, Shellie Roberts-Traynor, Deborah Roberts and Patricia Roberts; sisters, Shirley Jones (CA), Mary Elizabeth Miller (NC), Betty Jean Curry(NC) and brother, Ellie Culp (NJ) along with her caretakers Pastor R. David & Lady Olivia Keith and her personal nurse Sharon Cherry.
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