James Roberts, Jr

Retired Sheriff James Bost "JB" Roberts, Jr., age 96, passed away on Monday, May 9th, 2016 at CMC Northeast Hospital in Concord, North Carolina following an illness subsequent to an accident on the farm.

The cherished patriarch of a large family, he was surrounded by family and friends, who reminded him constantly how much his guidance, wit and intelligence impacted each of their lives.

JB was born on the family farm January 2nd 1920, in the Flowes Store Community of Cabarrus County. He graduated from Bethel High School in Midland and attended Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, NC, before joining the U.S. Navy in August of 1941. After the outbreak of World War II, JB was assigned to the USS Yorktown CV-5 and saw action in the Pacific Theater. He took part in the Battle of Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway where he survived the sinking of the USS Yorktown. JB was assigned to the USS Oglala AGR1 for the remainder of the war.

During leave after the Battle of Midway, JB proposed to and married the former June Baker of Kannapolis, NC. After the war they raised seven children. Besides his family, JB’s great pride was the years he served as Sheriff of Cabarrus County in North Carolina. He held that office from 1956 until 1982. JB also worked full-time managing the 200 acre family farm in Midland.

As Sheriff, JB was instrumental in helping develop a law enforcement training program for the state of North Carolina which is still in use to this day. In 2007, Governor Mike Easley honored JB’s work in law enforcement, awarding him with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. JB Roberts was also a former President of the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association, a member of Union Masonic Lodge #618 AF & AM in Midland, the Black-Phillips American Legion Post 433 in Midland, the Lions Club of Midland, and the VFW. JB was also the oldest member of Bethel United Methodist Church.

With his passing, JB’s brother William “Jennings” Roberts of Roseboro, NC, is his only surviving sibling. The two were close, sharing a special bond throughout their lives. Jennings and his wife Marilyn are frequent visitors to the family farm in Midland, where their close friendship was one of JB’s greatest joys.

JB was preceded in death by his father, James Benton Roberts and mother Elizabeth Barrett Roberts of Midland NC; his first wife June; his sister Elizabeth Staton of Long Beach, California; brother, Gordon of Concord and sister, Jane of Marietta, Georgia.

JB Roberts is survived by his brother, Jennings and wife, Mailyn; son, Jim and wife Dianne; son, John and wife Ruthie; son, Charles and wife Linda; son, Mike and wife Michele; daughter, Lisa and husband Merrill; son, Bob and wife Kay; and son, Joe; stepdaughter, Cookie Athanaelos; his grandchildren, Eugene, Bost, John II, Stephen, Joshua, Sara Kate, Jacob, Jessica, Alex, Elizabeth, Luke, Benjamin, Katie, Jeb, Gracie and Claire; three great-grandchildren; and step-granddaughter Georgann and husband Jeff Sapp.

After more than 50 years of marriage, JB lost June in the summer of 1995. Six years later, he married Myrtle Ketchie of Kannapolis. They enjoyed 15 years of marriage. JB leaves behind a long legacy which began three generations of naval service and three generations of law enforcement as well as engineers, journalists, educators, a nurse, a veterinarian, and an attorney.

A visitation will be held at Hartsell Funeral Home, Midland, N.C. from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11th 2016. A funeral service to celebrate JB's life is planned for Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at Bethel United Methodist Church at 12700 Idlebrook Road, Midland, NC 28107.

The Roberts family would like to thank the ICU staff at CMC Northeast for their patience and kindness during JB's illness.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in JB’s honor to the Bethel United Methodist Church Building Fund, 12700 Idlebrook Road, Midland, NC 28107.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Roberts family.