A Service of Witness to the Resurrection, The Reverend Dr. Joseph Laurence Roberts, Jr., 1935-2015, Saturday, February 21, 2015, Ebenezer Baptist Church, 400 Auburn Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30312, The Reverend Raphael Gamaliel Warnock, Ph.D., Senior Pastor

A SERVICE OF WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION
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(1935 - 201 5)
Saturday, February 21, 2015 12:00 p .m.
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400 Auburn Avenue Northeast Atlanta, GA 30312
The Reverend Raphael Gamaliel Warnock, Ph.D.
Senior Pastor



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February 17, 1935 - February 15, 2015

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4: 18-19, KJV

Joseph Lawrence Roberts Jr. was born to Reverend Joseph L. Roberts, Sr. and Marguerite Reed Roberts on February 17, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois. He received his formative education in the Chicago public school system. He enrolled at Knoxville College where he became a member of the Gamma Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and graduated cum laude.

It was at Bethel AME where he met the woman who would become the love of his life, Esther Jean Wortham. The two were married in Detroit Michigan, on June 7, 1959. Their steadfast, unwavering love was an inspiration to everyone who knew and loved them. The Robert's home was always steeped in religious faith, educational excellence and a commitment of service to others wherever they lived. He received his Master of Divinity Degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City and his Master of Theology Degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey. Dr. Roberts worked in various administrative positions in the Presbyterian Church, U.S., and was Pastor of Weequahic Presbyterian Church and Elmwood United Presbyterian Church in New Jersey.

In 1975, Dr. Roberts was called to serve as the fourth Senior Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he served for 30 years. A visionary and gifted leader, he used his exceptional skills in addressing
the major issues of our time, creating an awareness in others, and sensitizing them to act in meeting the
challenges of today. His messages stimulated the mind, were thought provoking, and got to the heart of the matter. It is with this type of leadership that Ebenezer continues to be a strong voice for the oppressed and an advocate for justice.

During the past quarter century of Dr. Roberts' dynamic leadership, more than 2000 new members joined this fellowship and financial giving increased more than 300 percent. When he took the helm at Ebenezer, he launched an expansive community outreach program that included the Teenage Mother's Ministry, a tutoring program, counseling, a food co,op and an adult day care center. This multi,talented man of all seasons was a great energetic orator and an accomplished musician. He also was an administrative wizard who negotiated successfully in securing bank financing for Ebenezer's 32,000,square,foot Horizon Sanctuary.

Recognized as a great teacher and accomplished author, in 2006, Reverend Roberts published Sideswiped by

Eternity: Sermons from Ebenezer Baptist Church. This collection of sermons demonstrates Reverend Roberts's

commitment to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the lives of his parishioners, and the message of Jesus

Christ. Dr. Roberts was selected to be the Wade Huie Professor of Preaching and the Director of the New

Center of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. Most recently, he served on the



Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation Board of Directors (2008,2014), was honored by the Samuel DeWitt

Proctor Conference (2014), and was a founder of the Higher Ground Group (2010,2015) an

interdenominational group of Atlanta faith leaders dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring action on key

issues affecting the greater Atlanta community. He also was the recipient of five honorary Doctor of Divinity

degrees. He was the 2004 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Awards of both of his graduate schools: Union

Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary. Lovingly known as Pastor Joe, he was an avid

reader, loved fishing and was well known for his fried fish and collard greens.

The Reverend Dr. Joseph L. Roberts departed this life on Sunday, February 15 at his home. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Esther Jean Wortham Roberts, Fayetteville, Georgia; two daughters, Cheryl Roberts (Leslie) Richmond, Decatur, Georgia and Cynthia (Sonny) Emory, Newnan, Georgia;
a son, Carlyle J. Roberts, Powder Springs, Georgia; six grandchildren, Cherica, Joya and Emmanuel Richmond, Nigel and Nicholas Emory and Jordyn Roberts; a sister, Jacqueline Roberts (Price) Michael, Douglasville, Georgia; a god,daughter, Genise Austin,Holliday, Tallahassee, Florida; the Ebenezer Baptist Church family and other loving relatives and treasured friends.

The Reverend Dr. Raphael G. Warnock, Officiating
PRELUDE "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" by Ralph Simpson
DR. DAVID F. OLIVER, Organist
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness" arr. Cynthia Dobrinski THE CHRISTINE KING FARRIS ADULT HANDBELL CHOIR, CYNTHIA S. TERRY, Director
"This River" Text by Ja Jahannes; Music by Uzee Brown DR. UZEE BROWN, JR., Soloist ELLA LEWIS, Accompanist
PROCESSIONAL
HYMN OF PRAISE
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" Hymn # 175 THE EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH CELEBRATION CHOIR & CONGREGATION
SCRIPTURE READING FROM THE PSALMS PSALM23
RABBI ALYIN SUGARMAN SENIOR RABBI EMERITUS, THE TEMPLE, ATLANTA, GA & CO-FOUNDER, HIGHER GROU D, ATLANTA, GA
FROM THE GOSPELS LUKE 4:16-19
T HE R EVEREND DR. ]AMES E. V ICTOR, ]R.
SE lOR PASTOR, MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH, ARLINGTO VA
FROM THE EPISTLES ROMANS 8:31-39
THE R EVEREND DR. j OANNA M. ADAMS
SE IOR PASTOR EMERITA, MOR I GSIDE PRESBYTERIA CHURCH, ATLA TA, GA & CO-FOU DER, HIGHER GROUND, ATLA TA, GA
PRAYER OF COMFORT THE R EVEREND DR. GERALD D URLEY PASTOR EMERITUS, PROVIDE CE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, ATLANTA, GA
THE ANTHEM "Blessed Assurance" arr. N ancy W ertsch THE EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH CELEBRATION CHOIR, MAURICE SEAY, Director
SHALEWA THRASH, Soloist
TRIBUTES (Friends) THE HONORABLE JOHN LEWIS UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESE TATIVES, 5TH DISTRICT- GEORGIA
THE REVEREND DR. GEORGE B. WIRTH PASTOR EMERITUS, FIRST PRESBYTERIA CHURCH, ATLA TA, GA
SENATOR LEROY R. JOHNSON CHAIR, TRUSTEE BOARD, EBE EZER BAPTIST CHURCH
SOLO "If I Can Help Somebody" by Alma Bazel Androzzo
Ms. MARY GURLEY DA IEL MOORE & MARK NORWOOD, A ccompanists

TRIBUTES (Sons & Daughter in Ministry)
THE REVEREND TIMOTHY MCDONALD SE IOR PASTOR, FIRST lCO IUM BAPTIST CHURCH, ATLANTA, GA
THE REVEREND DR. SHARON AUSTIN
DIRECTOR OF CO ECTIO AL MI ISTRIES, THE FLORIDA CONFERENCE OF THE U ITED METHODIST CHURCH, LAKELA D, FL
THE REVEREND EDWARD S. REYNOLDS SE lOR PASTOR, MIDWAY MISSIO ARY BAPTIST CHURCH, COLLEGE PARK, GA
CELEBRATION IN SONG "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" by Mack Wilberg
THE J. L. ROBERTS MEN'S CHORUS, MAURICE SEAY, Director
TRIBUTES (Church & Family)
DR. CHRISTINE KING FARRIS T RUSTEE, EBE EZER BAPTIST CHURCH
CARLYLE "C.J." ROBERTS
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DR. JACQUELINE MICHAEL SISTER
DEACON ELLIOTT BRYANT CHAIR, DEACON BOARD, EBE EZER BAPTIST CHURCH
ACKNO~EDGEMENTS
MUSICAL TRIBUTE (Family & Friends) 11Well Done" by Deitrick Haddon
SONNY EMORY (SON-IN-LAW) & FRIENDS AND EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH CELEBRATION CHOIR NICHOLAS EMORY (GRA DSON), Soloist
EULOGY "ANOTHER NAME FOR THE RECORDS"
2 SAMUEL 3:38; LUKE 10:17-20 THE REVEREND DR. CHARLES GILCHRIST ADAMS SE IOR PASTOR, HARTFORD MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH, DETROIT, MI
CHORAL BENEDICTION "Total Praise" by Richard Smallwood EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH CELEBRATION CHOIR
RECESSIONAL 11Hallelujah" FROM MESSIAH by George F. Handel EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH CELEBRATION CHOIR
ORGAN POSTLUDE
"Pradudium in G Major " by Johann Sebastian Bach DR. 0 AVID F. OLIVER, Organist
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SOUTHVIEW CEMETERY, 1990 JONESBORO ROAD, S.E., ATLANTA, GEORGIA

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DEACON JAMES ABSON DEACON PHILLIP FINCH DEACON DUANE JACKSON DEACON LAMAR LAKE
SHAWN LOFTON EARNEST PATTERSON
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SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN MINISTRY
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ESTHER JEAN ROBERTS CIRCLE FEBRUARY CLUB
'1 thank my God in all remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." (Philippians 1:3) We thank God for the prayers that surrounded my husband and our father, lifted by you, our Ebenezer Family. The Roberts Family sincerely appreciates the love, gifts, sympathies and kindness that you have shown during our hour of bereavement. Thanks be to God for you all. (Philippians 1:6) "And I am sure that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. " May God's eternal blessings be with you forever. T HE ROBERTS FAMILY
WILLIE A. WATKINS FUNERAL HOME 6580 CH URCH STREET RI VE RDALE, GEORGIA 30274
The Rev . Raphael G. Warnock, Ph.D., Senior Pastor I 101 Jackson Street, Northeast I Atlanta, Georgia 30312 I Tele: 404-688 -7300 I Fax: 404-521 -1129 I email: www .historicebenezer.org