Opal Faye (Roberson) Ross

Opal Faye Roberson Ross, at the age of 93, transitioned from this life to her Heavenly Home on Thursday, April 4th, 2024.

Memorial service will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 13,2024 at Carlisle Funeral Home Chapel. After the service, the family will be having fellowship and lunch at St. James United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 12:00 PM for family and friends that would like to attend.

Opal was born in Martin County, North Carolina on August 30th, 1930 to Reba and George Reddick Roberson. When she was five years old, her family moved to “Little Washington” in Beaufort County, North Carolina, where she spent her remaining childhood. In addition to Opal, the Roberson’s had three more children: brother, George Junior ~ the oldest; brother, Clyde; and Opal’s baby sister ~ Nan. Opal’s father was a farmer, who later established Roberson’s Cash Store in downtown Washington, where he sold fresh meat and groceries. Opal’s mother, Reba, was a homemaker, who took meticulous pride in caring for her young family and managing the household responsibilities. Opal began helping her mother at an early age and learned from her Momma well, as she, too, would become the most meticulous housekeeper and a loving, protective, and caring mother to her own family.

After graduation from Washington High School, Opal enrolled at Atlantic Christian (now Barton) College, in Wilson, North Carolina, Class of 1952. “ACC” is where she met the love of her life, William Herbert (Herb) Ross. They dated for four years, became engaged, and married at the Roberson family’s church, First Christian Church in Washington, on August 31, 1953. They were wedlocked for sixty-eight wonderful years, enjoying life in Rocky Mount (1953-1956), Fayetteville (1956-1974), and then Tarboro, North Carolina, where Opal resided until her passing. Opal and Herb raised three loving children; William Herbert Ross, Jr. (Bill), John Reddick Ross, and Lynne Prescott Ross (Boyd). While becoming a meticulous housekeeper, like her mother before her, a loving wife to Herb, and proud mother of three, Opal also taught High School English and Spanish while in Rocky Mount and kindergarten at Mrs. Guy’s Kindergarten in Fayetteville. She met and became close friends with Pat Daughtridge, who also taught school at Mrs. Guy’s. Pat and her husband, Glenn, would continue their lifelong friendship as the Daughtridges later moved to Tarboro, too. Pat and Opal remained close like family until Opal’s passing.

Opal and Herb were active members of First Christian Church in Fayetteville, NC. When they moved to Tarboro, they joined the membership of Saint James Methodist Church and began what would become a life-long, endearing friendship with Reverend Caswell and Pat Shaw & family. Upon arrival, Opal started a new St. James Circle Group, which became a proactive service organization for St. James, especially in the area of visitation and remembrance. She and Herb were also avid supporters of Meal on Wheels.

Opal and Herb lived almost five decades on Brandon Avenue, where they made so many loving and life-long friends. Brandon Avenue was a very endearing neighborhood. Opal and Herb’s friendships with Bill and Lillian Moore and family, the Powers, the Meadows, the Bauers, the Shaws, the Varneys, the Robersons, the Wootens, and so many others, made Brandon Avenue a very special place, cherished deeply by Opal and the entire Ross family. 

Opal was preceded in death by her parents, Reba and George; and two siblings, George Junior and Nan. 

She is survived by her three children, Bill, John (wife, Jennifer), and Lynne; nine grandchildren, Amanda Ross, Kate Ross, Trey (Mandy) Ross, Zach (Rachel) Ross, Taylor (Rachel) Ross, Blair Boyd, Caroline Boyd, Bailey Boyd, Ashlyn Boyd; and four incredible great-grandchildren, Landon, Brodie, Cameron, and Miss Tenley Ross. Opal is also survived by her brother, Clyde (Miriam); along with Clyde’s children, niece Lynette (Jeff) Davis, with son, Josh Keel; plus niece, Reba (Rusty) Fulghum, and their two children, Bryan (Ariel) Fulghum and Meredith (David) Ruff, with grandchildren, Olivia Ruff and Ethan Ruff.

Opal R. Ross was “Opal” to her many great friends. However, to all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was affectionately known and adored as “Mema” … and to them, she was “the bestest Mema in the whole wide world!” To her caregivers late in life, she was affectionately called “Miss Opal.” To know “Mema” and/or “Miss Opal” was to love her! Her acts of love and life of service to others was one well lived and well done!

The Ross family would like to take this opportunity to express our heart-felt and most sincere gratitude for the many Special Angels at The Jane in the Assisted Living Section for taking such loving good care of “Miss Opal” in the later stages of her wonderful life. The caregivers at the Jane have become extended family. Also, to homecare givers: Kristine Cochron, Felicia Person, and Joan Spain, Miss Opal loved you dearly and we do too! We are forever grateful to you for the blessings of comfort and peace you gave to “Miss Opal.”

Opal Faye Roberson Ross’s life was well lived and a blessing to so many. She loved all and was well-loved. Rest in peace, “Mema.” You are finally at home, in the loving embrace of your Savior, and reunited with “Papa!”

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Meals on Wheels in memory of Opal Ross the following information is where it would need to be sent:

MEALS on WHEELS

Attn: Sharon Whitaker

P.O. Box 1694

Tarboro, NC 27886

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