Obituary of Shirley Ann Peake Roberts

Shirley A. Roberts, 84, of Gaston, SC, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family early Sunday morning, March 28, 2021. She was the wife of the late Leonard Roberts and the life partner of Jimmy Rodgers, with whom she shared a home for 42 years.

She was born in Columbia, SC, the youngest daughter of Werner C. and Laura A. Peake. She grew up in the Olympia area of Columbia, along with her 6 older brothers and sisters. This nurtured her keen sense of responsibility and home making. She went to work at a young age at the post exchange at Fort Jackson. There she met the man that would become her husband and the father of her two children. She became a military wife. She had to maintain a household and raise her children, Rick and Debbie, almost alone, as her soldier was serving 7 tours of duty in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, she lost her husband in 1973. She was strong enough to lead and continue being the role model she always was. She was the strongest woman that we ever knew.

Mom was a talented lady on many levels. She enjoyed potting plants and taking care of them while they grew. She could make a pencil grow, if she wanted to. She had the discipline and the patience to paint pictures. Many of them are displayed proudly at our homes. She enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles. She would not quit until they were done. Mom was a talented seamstress. She was delighted to sew clothes for her grandbabies. Also, Mom baked cakes, made homemade candy and fudge. They had to be perfect though, or out the door they went and she would start all over again. Her greatest enjoyment was cooking Sunday dinner for her family and reading mysteries books, exchanging them with her daughter. Needless to say, her family enjoyed it more than she did. So multi-talented was she. She could do anything she set her mind to. She passed that on to her son & daughter. She was the reason that her daughter became a paralegal and her son became an accountant and a baseball player. Her support and encouragement never wavered.

Mom is survived by the people who will cherish her memory. They include, her life partner, Jimmy Rodgers of the home in Gaston, SC and her son Rick (Dale) Roberts and Debbie (Cliff) McDaniel of Charlottesville, VA. Also, she had 3 grandchildren, Brian Roberts of Eugene, Oregon, Lori (Neal) Smith of Batesburg and Tiffannie (Alan) Parker of West Columbia. Mom also cherished her 3 great-grandchildren she had, McKayla Smith, Brandon Ussery and Cadence Smith.

She is predeceased by her parents, Werner and Laura Peake, and her husband, Leonard Roberts. She is also the last of her 6 siblings to leave this earth. Her brothers who predeceased her were Lloyd Peake, Johnnie Peake and Charles Peake. Her sisters were Mary Clough, Eleanor Miller and Fannie Mae Peake.

Mom was a very private lady. She had decided not to have a funeral. There will be a private service for the immediate family at the gravesite, to be determined at a later date.