Wayne S. Roberts

Wayne S. “Shorty” Roberts, age 91, of Lake Butler met Jesus face to face Easter morning, April 9, 2023. He was born August 31, 1931, in Charlotte Harbor, FL. He spent his childhood and early adulthood in Charlotte Harbor, moved to California for many years, but has called Lake Butler home for the past 50 years. Wayne loved Union County. He helped start the volunteer deputy program, served as an honorary deputy, and was a past announcer for the Tiger Football games. Wayne spent 20 plus years with the department of corrections until his retirement. Wayne proudly joined the US Navy out of high school and fought for our country in the Korean War. His best friend in the Navy, Johnny, was brother to Martha Scritchfield. Johnny brought Wayne to meet her when she was 12 and they were pen pals while he was stationed in Guam. He sent her an engagement ring and asked her to marry him at age 15. That union has lasted for 69 years. He has several hobbies, fishing, building birdhouses, woodworking, and never passing up a good hotdog. He had a love for horses as he was a Jockey in his earlier years, was a foreman on the biggest cattle ranch in south Florida, and worked on a ranch in California his older years; however, his passion was sharing the love of Christ. Wayne pastored many churches over the years, including Pine Grove Congregational Methodist Church in Raiford and more recently he was the Seniors Pastor of Christ Central (The Anchor). Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Cecil Roberts; his son, Guy Wayne Roberts; his in-laws, James Henry and Lou Rena Scritchfield; two sisters and three brothers, one of which was his best friend, Colby and his wife Wanda Roberts.

Wayne has left a legacy in his family: his loving wife of 69 years, Martha Raye Roberts; children, Kim (Bill) Thomas, Tony (Dawn) Roberts, Gary (Trina) Roberts, and Marlena (Rob) Jarvis; grandchildren, Jennifer, Ben, Dustin, Kayla, Tabatha, Kendice, Tianna, Robby, and Keaton; great-grandchildren, Cole, Hayden, Jackson, Olivia, Reagan, Carsen, Gavin, Malachi, Mason, Talia, Eli, Evan, Emmit, Easton, Matthias, Eydn, Honor, Keldon, Aiden, Zailey, Zoe, and Enzley.

A service to honor Wayne’s life will be held at 10:30am on Monday, April 17, 2023, at Christ Central Church (The Anchor), 16045 SE 71st Trail, Lake Butler. The family will receive friends for a visitation beginning at 10:00am. Wayne will be laid to rest at Jacksonville National Cemetery with military honors at 1:30pm following the service. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Archer-Milton Funeral Home, Lake Butler. 386-496-2008 www.archerfuneralhome.com

Due to the burial at the national cemetery, the family is requesting plants in lieu of flowers, in order for them to make a remembrance garden. Wayne loved red hot peppers, peace plants, tomatoes, or any red plant. 

If anyone is wanting to provide food for the family, please send to Marlena’s home at 7066 CR 231, Lake Butler.