Joseph Calvin Roberts

Joseph Roberts, 80, of St. Johns, FL was received into the presence of the Lord on December 2, 2022. Joe was born August 22, 1942 at Davis Island Hospital, Tampa, FL to Jake and Lois (Hobby) Roberts. He was preceded in death by his parents Jake Roberts, Step mother Jean Roberts and mother Lois Sasser. He is survived by his wife, Kay Roberts; three sisters, Aritha Keene, Nancy Garrison, Gwen Roberts and two brothers, Rocky Roberts and Paul Roberts. Joe is also survived by two sons Christopher (Leslie) and Kevin Roberts (Nancy); one daughter, Leslie Cornett (Brian) of Chattanooga, TN; two step daughters, Rhonda Lovett and Karen LaFlamme of St. Johns, FL; twelve grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Joe joined the US Air Force right out of high school and played in an AF band at three different duty stations. Patrick AF Base, Cocoa Beach, FL; Clark Field, Philippines and McGuire AF Base, New Jersey. After completing his active duty obligation Joe returned home to Bartow, FL and began his college career at Polk Community College, completing his AA Degree. He then transferred to the Univ of South Florida, Tampa to complete his BA and Master Degree. He began his professional career with the Department of Labor, Employment Service in 1969 at Daytona Beach, FL. He was promoted to Employment Office Manager in Palatka, FL. During this time Joe joined the Army Reserve in 1975 as a Personnel Sgt, with 442 nd Personnel Service Co. in Orlando, FL. After his marriage to Kay Lovett, of Hastings he transferred to the FL Army National Guard, St. Augustine. He was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer and in 2002 retired from the FL National Guard in 2002 as a Senior Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4). After leaving his employment with the State of FL in 1980 he was employed by St. Augustine General Hospital, St. Augustine, as Human Resources Manager. In 1985 he was hired as Human Resources Manager for VAW of America, St. Augustine, and remained there until his retirement in 2005. Some of the community activities Joe was involved in were: St Augustine Technical Center Director’s Counsel, Council on Aging, Mayor of Hastings, Town Council Member of Hastings, Chairman of the North Florida Private Industry Council, Music Minister at Hasting First Baptist Church from 1980 thru 2006. In 2010 Joe and Kay moved to Bell, Fl and were members of Bethel Baptist Church. After relocating to St. Johns, FL in January of 2021 he joined Fruit Cove Baptist Church and transferred his Gideon membership to the Jacksonville South Camp. In 2022 he joined the Fruit Cove Church Mental Health Counselor/Coach team. A memorial service will be held 12:00 p.m. Saturday December 10, 2022 at First Baptist Church in Hastings. A visitation, beginning at 11:00 a.m., will precede the services. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to The Gideons International or Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. St. Johns Family Funeral and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Joseph Calvin Roberts

August 22, 1942 - December 2, 2022