Roberta Lee Ferguson of Newnan, Georgia, died peacefully on June 13, 2022. Roberta was born in Huntington, West Virginia, June 30, 1929 and grew up in Rocky River and Upper Arlington, Ohio. She attended Ohio State University where she was a Theta (Kappa Alpha Theta), won the Miss Ohio State Legs contest and met her future husband, James D. Ferguson. Jim and Roberta got to know each other on Spring Break in Fort Lauderdale and married the following November. This whirlwind romance is immortalized in the movie “Where the Boys Are”.
Jim and Roberta moved to Atlanta after Jim’s military stint in Washington, DC ended. Later they moved to Tampa before returning to Georgia in 1964. In 1970 they moved to Newnan, where they would spend the rest of their lives.
Roberta was always a social person and volunteered for many worthy organizations, including: Tampa Junior League, Girl Scouts, Kiwanis, and the various Methodist churches where she lived, joining Martha’s Circle and Sunday School. In Newnan, Roberta headed up Wednesday Night Suppers for a couple of years in the late 70s.
Dedicating her life to homemaking, it wasn’t until 1972 that Roberta started working for the Coweta County school system. She started as a substitute teacher at Newnan High School and later was asked to head the cafeteria, since she was a Home Economics major. Roberta started the first salad bar at Newnan High. After that she transferred to Northside Elementary and assisted Mrs. Camille Morgan with her kindergarten class. Roberta found her niche there and enjoyed many years with the little ones.
Upon retirement, Jim and Roberta traveled the world. Africa, China, the Amazon River, Machu Pichu, Galapagos, the Panama Canal and more, sometimes alone and sometimes times taking their daughters.
In 2007, Jim and Roberta moved to Wesley Woods of Newnan, where they would spend the rest of their lives. She was involved in activities, including the dancing group, sang a some of the programs, and made friends everywhere at Wesley Woods, staff and residents alike.
Roberta is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Jim, daughter, Laura Feltman, and parents, Georgia Stafford and Frank Rodney Stilwell. Her remaining family, Lee Corinne and George Berry, Jamie and Phil Smith, James and Kameron Smith, Parker Smith and Toni Walker Johnson, will miss Granny.
There will be a private graveside service Thursday morning.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either Newnan First United Methodist Church or the Wesley Woods Foundation.
Higgins Funeral Home Hillcrest Chapel is honored to serve the family of Roberta Lee Ferguson, please visit www.hillcrestchapelcares.com to share your memories or leave a condolence message.
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