Roberta B. Rivers

Obituary For Roberta B. Rivers

Services will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Mt. Zion Baptist Church 3500 19th Street S, Arlington, VA 22204

Vistation: 10 a.m.

Funeral: 11 a.m.

Interment to follow at National Memorial Park Cemetery Falls Church, VA

Obituary

On April 20, 2025, God looked down from heaven; commanded an angel of glory to bring to peaceful sleep our beloved, Roberta B. Rivers.

Roberta was born January 27, 1935, in Newberry, SC. She was the only child of Mattie Lee Burton. Roberta began her education in South Carolina and after moving to Virginia with the family in 1950, completed her education in the Virginia School System. While in school, she trained in cosmetology and played for the girls’ basketball and softball teams. Her athleticism didn’t end there, as an adult, she was an avid bowler, often traveling for competitions.

Roberta married Fred James Rivers on September 21, 1979. Through this union, she gained a stepson, Frederick (Petunia) Rivers parents of Faydra Rivers, and a stepdaughter, Beverly Rivers. Prior to this union, she married George McDuffie, whose family caringly remained in touch with her over the years.

Roberta earned a living as a Beautician, she also worked for Paktron Electronics, and the Alexandria City Public School System at Minnie Howard and T.C. Williams where she was a Hall Monitor.

She maintained an active social life. Roberta loved to dance…she would tell anyone who would listen about how she “danced all over.” In her travels, she explored domestically and abroad to places like Germany, France, and Holland.

Affectionately called “Bert” by her family, Roberta was caring, loving, and wise. She loved the Lord and shared that love with everyone. For years, she was a caregiver to her mother, aunt, and uncle. Roberta had a heart for people and always had kind and encouraging words to impart. She checked on others even as her health declined and continued to approach each day with gratefulness and joy because the world didn’t give it, and the world couldn’t take it away! When asked how she was doing, she often responded “I’m doing my best and letting God do the rest!” or “I’m thankful for my mind and I’m thankful for my time.”

Roberta accepted Christ early in life as a member of Trinity A.M.E. Methodist Church in Newberry, SC. When she moved to Alexandria, VA with her family, she joined Woodlawn Methodist Church and later joined Mt. Jezreel Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Henry Houston and successor, Rev. Johnnie L. Sudds. While there, she sang in the choir, served on the Pastor’s Love Club, the Hospitality Ministry as Vice-Chair, as well as the Deaconess Board. Decades later, the Lord led her to Mount Zion Baptist Church in Arlington, VA where she proudly served in the New Member’s Ministry for several years.

Roberta was preceded in death by her mother, Mattie L. Burton, husband, Fred J. Rivers, and stepson, Frederick Rivers. Left to cherish her memory are her aunt, Annie White Burton in Norfolk, VA, 16 first cousins, including Juanita R. Pope, Doris W. Brooks, Bernice W. (Wesley) Dismuke, Ruby W. (Charles) Hall, and Robert L. (Mildred) Worthy; Francine Wigglesworth, Pauline T. B. (Johnnie) Sudds, Willie F. Burton, Jr., Danny (Augustine) Smith, Jay C. (Gail) Burton, Marsha B. Bowe, Angela R. B. Morgan, Robin S. Johnson, Anita B. Boush, Anthony J. Burton, Kenneth D. Burton; one Goddaughter and caregiver, Andria Jackson; a host of cousins, relatives, and friends

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