WAYNE BRYANT ROBERTS
May 26, 1930-Feb. 16, 2014
Wayne Bryant Roberts, 83, a native of Duplin County, and son of the late Jesse Bryant and Lila Swinson Roberts, died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, at WakeMed.
He and his twin, Wyatt Elwood Roberts, were born May 26, 1930, on the family farm in the Beautancus area.
Wayne, a lifelong Presbyterian, was a member of Stanford Presbyterian Church near Mount Olive.
He spent 39 years in Davidson, and was a member of Davidson College Presbyterian Church.
In both churches, he served on the session, and was an active member.
Wayne graduated from Calypso High (1948), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (AB), East Carolina University (MA), Peabody of Vanderbilt (EdS) and Appalachian State University (MA in reading).
He retired after 35 years as a teacher and principal in North Carolina schools.
He was a lifetime member of Phi Delta Kappa, NEA and NEA-R, district president for three years for Char-Meck Retired School Personnel and state president for North Carolina Retired School Personnel 1998-2000.
In the early 1970s, he served as state president for the North Carolina Council of Reading.
In 1971, Wayne was honored by Davidson College ,who presented him with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award for his humanitarian efforts in the community.
In 1984, he was the first named principal from North Carolina for the most distinguished principal, a program sponsored by NCAE and the United States Office of Education.
Wayne was honored numerous times by the Davidson School PTA.
Wayne was a member of the Lions Club for 50 years. He served as president and district governor (district C), and he received five commendations and awards from International Presidents plus two charters of appreciation.
He collected more than 600 body wills, had given more than 100 pints of blood and served as a volunteer for two weeks for seven summers at Camp Dogwood for the Blind.
Wayne enjoyed travel, visiting in every state and 85 countries. He thoroughly enjoyed going to Oberammagau, Germany, in 1990 and 2000 to attend the Passion Play, given every 10 years by the local people.
Wayne thoroughly enjoyed his role as principal, providing for the needs of those under his charge.
He came to Davidson the first year of integration, and his leadership led the school to success. He promoted reading, parent involvement and good attendance of children.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014, at 2:30 p.m. at the University of Mount Olive in Rodgers Chapel. Private burial rites were held recently at Wayne Memorial Park near Goldsboro.
He is survived by his twin brother, Wyatt Elwood Roberts, and his sister, Martha Roberts Smith, both of Mount Olive.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Boyden Pierce Roberts and Adrian Ray Roberts; and a nephew, Dr. Adrian Ray Roberts Jr.
Memorials may be sent to the endowment Wayne established in 1996, Roberts-Swinson Scholarship Endowment, University of Mount Olive, 634 Henderson St., Mount Olive, N.C., 28365.
Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home and Crematory of Goldsboro is serving the Roberts family, and online condolences may be directed to www.shumate-faulk.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on February 20, 2014 1:49 PM