Obituary of Ottie Houser Roberson

Ottie Houser Roberson was promoted to glory on August 15, 2018, in West Columbia, SC at the age of 107. She was born on March 18, 1911, near Cliffside, N.C. She was the daughter of the late Tilden and Essie Ramsey Houser and wife of the late Rev. Robert L. Roberson.

She and Bob attended Columbia Bible College. After Bob graduated, they married on February 2, 1932.  Before retiring from the Lee County School Board of Virginia, she was active in the Powell River Association serving many years as associational clerk and director of W.M.U.  She was an organist, pianist, taught Sunday School many years in the churches where her husband served.  She was a devoted mother and a faithful Pastor’s wife. 

Ottie is survived by her four children; Robert LeRoy Roberson II, known as Bobby Lee (wife Barbara); Barbara Anita Roberson Williams, known as Barbara Ann (late husband Marvin); Arnold Lavern Roberson (wife Alice), and Sybil Virginia Roberson Parsons (husband Lowell), 8 grandchildren, Wanda Nichols (Royce) of West Columbia, SC, Saundra Moody of West Columbia, SC, Dawn Gray of Myrtle Beach, SC, Bobby Roberson, III (Stephanie) of NC, Cheryl Truluck of Clifford, NC, Michael Roberson (Pam) of Pennington Gap, VA, Tim Parsons (Loi) of Columbia, SC and Robbie Babbin (Nick) of Winnsboro, SC; 19 great-grandchildren, and many many great-great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-great grandchild on the way. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Rev. Robert Roberson and son-in-law Marvin Williams. 

She remembered the emergence of radio in her early life and later the advent of television. She recalled when airplanes first took to the air. Her earliest memories were of travel by foot, or horse-drawn buggies and wagons, and then the first automobiles.

Her children remember her as funny, kind, loving, godly and full of spunk. She had a great love for camping and going to the ocean.  She was a very dedicated and godly woman who loved her Lord and was passionate about sharing the gospel. She was a member of Congaree Baptist Church. 

A celebration of Ottie’s life is scheduled for Sunday, August 19th at 1:30 pm beginning with visitation, and funeral at 3:00 pm at Congaree Baptist Church, 101 Pine Ridge Drive, West Columbia, SC 29172. Dr. Mark A. Smith and Ron Pelfry will officiate the ceremony. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ottie’s life.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the Ottie Roberson Scholarship Fund at CIU Advancement Dept., PO Box 3122, Columbia, SC 29230 (803) 807-5006, to Mission Dignity c/o Guidestone Financial Resources, P.O. Box 819109, Dallas, TX 75381 (877) 888-9409, or to Congaree Baptist Church at 101 Pine Ridge Drive, West Columbia, SC  29172 (803-955-9556).  Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia is assisting the family.

The family would like to thank MSA Hospice and Tammy for their loving care.