Gracie (Brisbon) Roberts

Gracie B. Roberts was born to Wallace Brisbon and Estella Tisdale Brisbon on January 3, 1932 and was a native of Columbia, South Carolina.  She was reared in the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) church by parents who were both graduates of Allen University, an A.M.E educational institution.  While growing up, she attended Bethel A.M.E. Church and was an active member of the Sunday School, Young People’s Division, and choir at that church.

She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Columbia and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education from Talladega College and Alabama State University.  Her Master of Education Degree was received from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado.

She was an educator with the Dothan City School System for over 35 years where she served as an interim principal, teacher, Director of the High School Summer School program, guidance counselor, and Chairman of the Guidance and Counseling Departments for both Carver and Dothan High Schools. 

In the community, she served as a member and Chairman of the Dothan City Board of Education, a Board of Directors member of the Girls Club, the Alabama Youth Services, “House of Ruth,” Troy State University In-Service training board, the Bi-Racial Study Group, and the Dothan City Schools Educational Foundation Organization.  She received many civic and community awards for her service work.

As a life-long member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, she was a member of Stringer Street African Methodist Episcopal church where she served in various positions including Director of the Young People’s Division of the Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) for her local church, Dothan-Eufaula District, and South Alabama Conference Branch. She was elected and served as Conference Branch President of the South Alabama Conference Branch Women’s Missionary Society, Connectional Church Chairman of the Women’s Missionary Society Christian Social Relations Committee, Conference Branch Constitution and By-Laws Committee, and Conference Chairman of the Handy-Simmons Scholarship Committee.  She was honored as a Missionary Empowered Woman during the 1987 Quadrennial Convention and a Women’s Missionary Society Life Member at the 2003 session. At the local level, she was President of Stewardess Board #1, Building Committee Chairman, Director of Lay activities of the local Lay organization, among other positions.

Family was a special blessing to her, and she was married for 68 years to James Maurice Roberts of Ozark, Alabama (deceased in 2024).  They had two children, James Monroe “Mony” Roberts (deceased in 1976) and Kim Roberts Johnson (son-in-law, Wendell) and two grandchildren, James Calvin Johnson (Ayaka) and Maya Angelic Johnson.  Her family includes a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Her favorite Bible verse was Psalm 121:1-2: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the Lord, which made Heaven and Earth.”

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