John Bethel Roberts was born in Marengo County Alabama, son of Joseph Roberts and Mary Jane Stewart Roberts. Both of his parents were deceased by the time he was age eight. John and his siblings were split up and were raised by different families. John was raised by his Aunt Sarah Etheridge and her second spouse Wiley Etheridge.

The name Bethel was the namesake of the Rev. Bethel W. Herrin, in 1848 when John was born, Bethel Herrin was the pastor of Nanafalial Baptist church in Marengo County Alabama and John's parents were members of this church. The name Bethel has been passed down through four generations.

John Bethel Roberts and Emma Whitfield Knight were united in marriage on the 14 Dec. 1876 in Lauderdale County Mississippi. John & Emma resided in Lauderdale, Kemper and Neshoba counties in Mississippi. John worked as a brick mason and he farmed. John & Emma were the parents of eleven children of which ten lived to be adults.

John had two brothers and a sister, Nancy Amanda, Charles M. B. and James Desire Roberts who corresponded as adults. The letters have never been located but, it was his grandson's knowledge of this correspondence that made it possible to locate the descendants of Charles and James, who were never on a census with their parents or on any known court record. When John was too old to steady his hand to write, his grandson would write the letters for John.

John had only a short illness, during which time his wife, children, neighbors and friends did all that was possible to restore him to health, but they fought a losing fight, God needed him most and called him home. He was laid to rest in Hester's Chapel Cemetery, B. Culpepper officiating. John was age 78.

Excerpts from newspaper articles about John:

#1
Mr. Roberts was one of the truest Christians I ever knew. I spent five months with Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, three years ago, during which time I never saw him the least vexed about anything. He was always kind and considerate of others and never forgot to do some little act of kindness for me each day. Written by a friend,
Madie Peden Light.


#2
In Memoriam

In memory of J. B. Roberts, who departed this life Nov. 11, 1926.

Twas on the eleventh of November it has been two years ago,
But oh! How well I do remember God called and papa had to go.

How we miss our precious father since he left this earthly home.
But he's with the Heavenly Father never more on earth to roam.

God has called our father dear, to receive his great reward.
His faith was great, he had not fear. He now is living with the Lord.

And by faith we're looking upward to that land where comes no night,
Jesus leads us safely onward. As he ever leads us right.

Father's gone but not forgotten. We can never forget the care,
of a loving Christian father as he taught us while down here.

Grant dear Lord that we as papa be submissive to thy will,
And thy footsteps gladly follow ‘till we too go shouting home to live.

Written by his daughter,
(Mrs.) J. M. Williams.