Johnnie Roberson

Ms. Johnnie Roberson “Goo” passed away peacefully on September 13, 2021, in Madison, Alabama. She was born October 31, 1934 in Pikeville, Tennessee.

Ms. Roberson retired from the Contel Phone Company of northern Virginia and the Bledsoe County, Tennessee school system. Johnnie always had a great passion and love for music. She was an accomplished pianist and classical music singer. She had been known to say “I always have music playing in my mind.”

Johnnie was a loving mother to her entire family, in all generations; a caring sister, and an affectionate aunt for all. She rejoiced in her family heritage and was quite knowledgeable of its rich history. Anyone who was wise enough to listen, knows she could entertain them with many outstanding tales of days gone by for many of the Roberson and Swafford clans.

Lastly, Johnnie displayed her well-known sense of humor right up until the very end.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John L. and Anna Roberson; three brothers, Jim Sam Roberson, T.Y. Roberson, and Maxie Roberson; eight sisters, Elizabeth Roberson, Anna Grace Irwin, Virginia Thomas, Dorinda Starnes, Mary Gene Roberson, Emmaline Leigh, Margaret Sue Record, and Helen Lang; and one grandson Jonathan Cain Capps.

Surviving family and friends include one sister Nada Myers and one sister-in-law Barbara Roberson; six children, Steve (Carolyn) Capps, Dean Cox, Tracee (John) Benigni, Audree Sites, Loree (Buddy) Ashley, and Melodee (Timmy) Ashley; 15 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Also survived by many wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins; and special friends Helen Billingsly and Jerri Aldredge.

A graveside service will be held at the Roberson family graveyard on October 2 at 2 p.m. In line with CDC Covid-19 guidance, masking and social distancing practices are encouraged. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Cancer Research efforts, or the Brain Aneurysm Foundation.

On a final note, any family and friends attending the service are invited to bring a simple musical instrument and chairs to sit by for a short, impromptu tribute to “Goo.” This tribute will be held immediately at the end of the service, at the family cemetery.