M argaret Elaine Wooten Roberts entered into the presence of her Lord on Friday, January 6, 2023.  She passed away at the Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC, while being treated for several health issues, pneumonia being the most prominent.

Elaine was born on December 17, 1948 in the Black Rock Community of Grayson County just outside of Independence, VA to Leonard Mckinley and Katherine Hash Wooten. She is preceded in death by her beloved mother and dear brother, Johnny Mack Lee Wooten.

Elaine was the eldest of four children. After she and Johnny were born, her sisters Rebecca W. Catron (Ralph) and Audrey W. Tolley (Danny) arrived. She would often reminisce about the fun they had growing up together.

As a young girl, Elaine accepted Christ as her Savior - a relationship that would lay the foundation of her life. As a child, she attended the First United Methodist Church of Independence with her grandfather, Leff Wooten, and, later, she became a member of the First Baptist Church of Independence. Elaine loved the Lord and worked to share His light and love in the world. She could often be found listening to sermons or studying her small, white Bible that grew ragged with wear over the years.

As a young woman, Elaine excelled in her school work and loved growing up in the beauty of Black Rock "holler." Besides playing with her brother and sisters, she also developed a life-long adoration for animals of all kinds. She had many cherished pets throughout the years that brought her much joy. She was always good at drawing, could sew, and she played the coronet in the Independence High School Marching Band.

In 1964, she met the love of her life - Darel Leon Roberts from Comers Rock, VA. One day, when she was nearing the end of her Eighth Grade year, she invited him to sit next to her on the school bus. He did, and they were inseparable from that day forward. The two dated for four years, and on March 29, 1968, just a couple of months before her High School graduation, she played hooky from school so that they could run off together to elope. They went to Sparta, NC to find a minister. However, the Baptist pastor wasn't to be found so they married in the Presbyterian Church. As long as it was in the presence of the Lord and they were wed to one another, that was all that mattered. They went on to celebrate fifty four anniversaries together at the home they built together at Black Rock.

In October of 1970, their first child, Lynn Devon, was born. Elaine was able to stay home with her until she started school. That same year, in 1975, Elaine began working as a bookkeeper at Grayson National Bank where she would work for the next thirty six years until her retirement. There, she made many wonderful friendships and memories that she always cherished. While working at the bank, it became known that she had a rather unusual and humorous talent. Once she ever heard of someone's Birthday, she would never forget the date. She could recite person after person's date of birth. In December of 1981, the couple's second child, David Alan, was born. Elaine always treasured her family and friends and was good to everyone she knew.

Elaine enjoyed many hobbies. She loved to read, do puzzles, listen to music and sing, learn new things, and she could make the most beautiful, intricate creations from crochet and knitting. She also made delicious potato salad, bread pudding, and coconut cake. She was a beauty on the outside as well as the inside. She was a gentle, caring soul who sought only to live a peaceful life with her loved ones and her Lord. Earth's loss is certainly Heaven's gain, and she will be missed every single day by those who love her until we are, once again, reunited. We praise God for her life and lay her in His loving arms until that precious day…

Public memorial services will be announced as details become available.

Reins-Sturdivant is proudly serving the Roberts family.