Barbara Ann Roberts

Barbara Ann (Smy) Roberts, age 73, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2022.  She was born on October 17, 1948, in Ipswich, England to Reuben Smy and Lily (Howard) Polley.  She was raised by her mother, Lily, and father, Tom Polley.

Barbara was affectionately called “Mums” by her husband & children, and “Grannis” by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She was proud of her heritage and family back home in England and her nickname was a constant reminder of it to us all!  Mums loved to love on people, and she didn’t let anything stand in her way to shower that love on everyone she knew.  She brought people together during conflict.  She showed a rare level of mercy towards all.  She had compassion that extended from the elderly in the store who needed help shopping or purchasing their groceries, to the turtle that needed help crossing the road.  She had a faith in God that was deeply intimate and all her own.  She loved to give gifts and was always on the hunt for anything from thrifted goodies to new store-bought items to bless her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with every time they came to visit, along with many others she wanted to bless who were in need. 

She loved to serve and help!  This is one of the reasons she volunteered at the Methodist Children’s Home in Macon.  She was a woman of many trades:  renovating houses, artwork, cooking, and gardening to name a few!  Everyone in the family was always amazed at the amount of force she contained within her little 5’2” frame!  She was faithful, kind, loyal and fierce.  She’s one of a kind, a real gem, and we will miss her incredibly!  Her life example will continue to impact us all for a very long time.

Barbara was proceeded in death by her parents, Tom and Lily Polley and son, Barry Roberts.  She will be sorely missed and survived by her husband of almost 37 years, Richard Roberts; her brother, Roy Kent; sisters, Linda Cobbold and Teresa (Keith) Poole; her son, Charles Darren (Judy) Clark; two daughters, Carrol Ann (Brian) Starley and Loraine Patricia (Virgil) Simms; grandchildren: Randy, Rachel, Maryhelen (Amauri), Trevor, Slade, Michaela (Jacob), Logan, Sadie, Micah, Katie, Isabel, and Abigail; and five great-grandchildren:  Lilliana, Jonah, Giana, Naomi and Audrey.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held for close family and friends on Friday, July 1, 2022, at Ahava Ministries, 880 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Macon, GA 31201 from 6pm-8pm.    In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Methodist Home of Macon at https://www.themethodisthome.org/ in her name.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences. 

Hart’s on Cherry Street, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 765 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201 has charge of the arrangements. 

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