Charles Roberts

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Charles W. Roberts, 78, of Olive Branch, formerly of Cairo, Ill., died Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau after a courageous battle with medical issues.

He was a member of Washington Avenue Baptist Church in Cairo for more than 50 years. He graduated from Cairo High School and attended classes at Shawnee College.

His parents were William Alexander Roberts and Gertrude Knight Roberts Mitchell. He was born at Smithland, Ky., in a log cabin on his grandfather's farm.

He married Bernadine Berbling of Cairo. They recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.

Charles worked in the grocery business and retired from Banks Grocery Co. in Cairo. After retirement, he established Twin Rivers Mercantile Civil War Sutlery in 1989 and was known by Civil War re-enactors from coast to coast. He served in the Illinois National Guard for nine years and was a member of the Oddfellows Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, J.C. Mitchell; and brothers Albert Roberts, Donald and Donnie Gibson.

He is survived by his wife, Bernadine Roberts of Olive Branch; his son, Christopher W. Berbling of Olive Branch; a sister, Freida (Vernon) Wall of Pine Bluff, Ark.; sisters-in-law, Sherry (Don) Gibson of Mt. Vernon, Ill., Charlene (Pete) Halstead of Linton, Ind., and Marcena Berbling of Anna, Ill.; brother-in-law Nelson (Anne) Berbling of Sikeston, Mo.; a favorite aunt, Lucy Richardson of Grand Rivers, Ky.; nieces, Deena Johnson of Memphis, Tenn., Megan Halstead of Linton, Cara Althoff of Cobden, Ill., Jaylen Althoff of Anna, Cody Thomas of Cobden, Mandy Pratt of St. Charles, Mo., Katie Pratt of Atlanta, Michelle Roberts of Las Vegas, Tana Cuppy of Memphis, Alayna Althoff of Anna, Addison Althoff of Anna and Joslyn Pribble of Cobden; and nephews, Neil Berbling of St. Louis, Jonathan Berbling of Cape Girardeau, Carey Althoff of Anna, Whitney Althoff of Anna, Mark Pratt of Sikeston, Bill Gibson of Mt. Vernon, Steve Gibson of Mt. Vernon, Brayden Lee of Linton, Clay Thomas of Cobden and Josh Cuppy of Memphis.

All who knew him were impressed by his honesty and straightforwardness. His creed was "Your word is your bond".

He was a remarkable man who lived for his family and friends. Our family was blessed to have this awesome man in our family. He was very much loved and will forever be missed.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. to service time Saturday at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery in Thebes, Ill.

The world has lost a son, brother, husband, father, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, cousin, Christian soldier, loyal American patriot, Civil War re-enactor, historian and friend. This world will never be the same without him.

He is now in the secure keeping of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

May he rest in peace.

In Memoriam: Charles W. Roberts.