Brenda Sloan Roberts

Brenda Cheryl (Sloan) Roberts, a loving wife and mother, passed on to her Heavenly Father on May 1, 2024. She had suffered for several years from COPD and other medical problems and pains. She died peacefully in the Critical Care Unit at the Atrium Health Unit in Monroe, N.C., with her husband, son, brother, and sister-in-law by her bedside. To the end, she retained a strong faith in Jesus Christ and a deep love for her husband, Sam Roberts, and son, Jason Roberts.

Brenda was born April 22, 1951, in Midland, Tx. Her family moved several times as her carpenter father looked for jobs before settling near Mt. Vernon, Tx., at the start of her 1st grade year in school. She graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1969. She began attending church as a baby, and by the time she was 10 years old she was often asked to sing in her church. Her cousin Becky Reeves Mull tells this story: "When we were 12, we were asked to sing at church. Brenda always took the lead, and I did harmony because her voice was stronger. We sang 'Sweet Hour of Prayer,' but when it came for the verse 'And on Mt. Pisgah's Lofty Height,' Brenda misread it and belted out, 'And on Mt. Pig's Eye's lofty heights.' I started giggling and got her to start giggling, and we had to go sit down." After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy, Brenda worked as a property manager in Dallas, Tx., where she met the love of her life, Sam Roberts, while he was working as a building contractor. They were married on May 25, 1985, in Lancaster Texas. After they moved to North Carolina, she worked as an office manager in Monroe. She had a deep concern about injustices and for many years she wrote articles for the system newspaper of the Texas Department of Corrections. Because one of her nieces had been incarcerated for 15 years for possession of marijuana and because she had a child-like mentality and could barely survive prison life, Brenda studied criminal law for three years at East Texas State University and then earned her Paralegal Certificate from the University of North Texas. For more than two years she wrote on her niece's behalf numerous letters to the Texas state parole board. Finally, the board granted parole. Brenda wrote many human-interest articles for the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock. Brenda is survived by the following: her Husband: R. Sam Roberts of Wingate, N.C., formally of Leeper, Pa. and Son: Jason Lucas Roberts of Wingate, N.C.Brothers: Bud (Mari Lynn) Sloan of Seattle, Wash.; David (Joanne) Sloan of Northport, Ala.; and Wendel (her twin) of Mesquite, Tx.; Sisters-in-law: Linda Roberts Stewart of Lawton, Ok.; Luz Ann Roberts of Tulsa, Ok.; and LaRue Sloan of Ruston, La.; Brother-in-law Jeff Roberts (Karen) of Ocala, Fla. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and wonderful friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Guy and Faye Sloan of Mt. Vernon, Tx.; sister, Reba Sloan Latimer of Garland, Tx.; brother, Gary Sloan of Ruston, La.; and parents-in-law, Robert and Eva Roberts of Oil City, Pa. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00pm on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at Holland Funeral Service, 806 Circle Drive, Monroe, NC 28112. Mrs. Roberts will be laid to rest at Greenlawn Memorial Park of Pageland immediately following the service. The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the service from 12:00pm until 1:45pm. Holland Funeral Service is serving the Roberts family.