John Edward Roberts

John Edward Roberts, 82, of Marianna passed away at his residence surrounded by his family on October 16, 2025, following a brief illness. He was born on January 6, 1943 to Oliver Young (Slim) Roberts and Martha Russell Roberts. John was proud to be an eighth generation Jackson County, Floridian. His family first arrived in Jackson County in 1818.
From an early age, John developed a strong work ethic. He picked up pecans on halves and worked as a bag boy at the local grocery stores. In high school, John and his lifelong best friend, Donald Crisp, started a lawn mowing business. They pushed their lawn mowers all over town cutting yards. John graduated as salutatorian of the Marianna High School Class of 1961. He continued his education at Chipola Junior College and graduated in 1963. While at Chipola, John worked as a janitor at Marianna Federal Savings and Loan. Later in life, John served on the board of directors for Marianna Federal.
Upon graduation from Chipola, John transferred to Florida State University. He hitchhiked back and forth to Florida State along Highway 90 as he did not have an automobile. While at Florida State, John's father died unexpectedly, and he returned home to Marianna. He worked on the road crew for the Jackson County Road and Bridge Department. According to John, it was the hottest and hardest job he ever held. After a year, John returned to Florida State and graduated with a degree in risk finance insurance in 1965.
John accepted a job at Royal Globe Insurance Company in Atlanta, Georgia. He boarded a Greyhound bus and arrived in Atlanta in time to start work the next day. After a year, John received notification of his promotion and upcoming transfer to Dallas, Texas. Rather than relocate to Dallas, John enrolled in the charter class at the Florida State University College of Law. While in law school, John worked in the law library where he met his wife, Kathryn. He graduated from law school and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1969.
After a short stint at the Florida Department of Environmental Quality, John returned to Marianna and opened his own law practice in a single room office with a rented typewriter. He was subsequently elected as the Prosecuting Attorney for Jackson County in 1970. John and Joe Sheffield started the law firm of Roberts and Sheffield shortly thereafter. They purchased the old Coca Cola office building and remodeled it into a law office. For ten years, they practiced law together until Joe left the firm to work in the family business. John continued to practice law and worked as a part-time assistant state attorney until his election to the circuit court bench in 1991. He served as a circuit court judge for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit for six years.
Although he discouraged his children from going to law school due to the long hours and demands, all three of his children graduated from law school. In 2001, John opened the law firm of Roberts, Roberts and Roberts with his two sons. For over twenty years, he enjoyed working with his sons and serving the legal needs of the community. John's standard dress code was always a blue dress shirt, khaki pants and a pair of Florsheim shoes. He provided valuable insight and knowledge not only to his sons but to other young attorneys in the area. In addition, he worked as a part-time assistant public defender for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. He was a proud member of the Florida Bar for over fifty-six years.
John was actively involved in the community he so dearly loved. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church for over fifty years where he served as a trustee, on the Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee and as a member of the Open Door Sunday School Class. John was also a member of the Kiwanis Club where he served as president and as lieutenant governor for District 2. He served on the Marianna City Commission for twenty-four years as a city commissioner and for several terms as mayor. John received the Service Above Self Award in 2024 from the Marianna Rotary Club for his many contributions to the community.
Above all, John enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. John and his wife, Kathryn, enjoyed fifty-four years of marriage. He cherished his children and delighted in his grandchildren. John drove his grandchildren to preschool and school each day until they were able to drive themselves. Affectionately known to his grandchildren as Pop Pop, he spoke to each of them daily and loved to hear about their studies. He enjoyed his daily breakfast group at Hardees and driving around the county on Sunday afternoons. John loved to see young people succeed, and he would often offer advice to students who desired to pursue a career in law.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver Young Roberts and Martha Russell Roberts. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn; his daughter, Kathy Roberts Clark and her husband, Steven, of Cleveland, Mississippi; his two sons, Russell Sterling Roberts and John Young Roberts and his wife, Kristin, all of Marianna; his grandchildren, Lily Kathryn Roberts, Kathryn Reese Clark, William Edward Clark and Graham Young Roberts; his sister, Carolyn Majors and her husband, Mike, of Marianna. John also leaves behind two special cousins, Russell Gray of Atlanta and Janet Stephenson and her husband, Juddy, of Panama City Beach.
Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Sunday, October 19, 2025 at the First United Methodist Church in Marianna with Reverend Dr. Nathan Attwood and John Young Roberts officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery with Marianna Chapel Funeral Home directing.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the Wesley Center at the First United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Chipola College Foundation, Inc., a foundation John helped to establish in 1980 with other community leaders or to the First United Methodist Church in Marianna.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Lambe family at Marianna Chapel Funeral Home.
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