James Roberson Sr
James Earnest Roberson Sr (born June 14, 1943 in Birmingham; died January 7, 2023 in Birmingham) was a teacher and principal for Jefferson County Schools.
James was the son of Mack and Aressa Craig Roberson of Collegeville. He was baptised at Bethel Baptist Church and worked numerous jobs as a boy. He attended Hudson Elementary School and graduated at 16 from Parker High School in 1960.
Roberson completed his bachelor's degree in education at Alabama A&M University in 1964. While in school he led peaceful demonstrations for civil rights on campus and at Huntsville businesses.
After graduating, Roberson began his teaching career at A. G. Gaston Junior High School in Roosevelt City. He taught physical science and biology there at later at Leeds Junior High School before being promoted to assistant principal at Erwin High School. He completed a master of arts in educational leadership at UAB in 1986, and also attended Faith College. He returned to Leeds Junior High as principal, and retired in 1991.
While employed as an educator, Roberson worked evenings as an auto salesman at Brownell Pontiac and later at Ernest McCarty Ford. He went through training from the Ford Minority Dealers Association and was offered opportunities to open dealerships across the country, but decided not to move away from Birmingham.
Roberson was active as a deacon at 6th Avenue Baptist Church, as a member of the Homewood Park and Recreation Board, the Alabama A&M University Alumni Association and the Alabama Forest Owners' Association. He was also a supporter of the 100 Black Men of Birmingham, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the March of Dimes, and Grace House Ministries.
He married the former Linda Carroll Thompson in July 1972 and had three children, James Jr, Shayla, and Jemia.
Roberson died in January 2023. he was survived by his wife, three children, and eleven grandchildren. Former Leeds student Charles Barkley remembered Roberson during a broadcast of "NBA on TNT" as, "one of the great influences of my life."
References
- Dr. James E. Roberson, Sr. obituary (January 10, 2023) Smith & Gaston Funeral Home
- Joly, Rekha (January 16, 2023) "“One of the Great Influences of My Life”: Emotional Charles Barkley Mourns the Loss of His High School Teacher." EssentiallySports