James Early Roberson

James Early Roberson, age 83, of Cleveland, TN passed away on December 1, 2018. He was born on December 31, 1934 as son of the late George D. Roberson and Mary Lou Broomfield Roberson. James was a lifelong resident of this area and a church member at various times in his life of St. Therese, First Baptist and Lebanon Baptist, where he will be laid to rest. James loved to attend UT football games, hunt quail, fish, golf and sing. He served in the US Army of Alaska in the mid-1950s. Upon leaving the military he was employed at Bowaters and became a union representative there. He was a gifted home builder and one of the first licensed residential contractors in Cleveland. In 1968 he worked to establish the Cleveland-Bradley Builders Association, recruited 41 builders to its ranks, and served as its local president in 1981. James always expressed his gratitude to others for the help he received as a builder. In August 2017, the Ocoee Region Builders Association honored him with their Lifetime Achievement award. In addition to his mother and father, he is preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his two children, Francis Eugenia Stewart; brother Kenneth Roberson, sister Louella Roberson and beloved canine companion “Beau”. He leaves behind to cherish his memory son Ricky Roberson (Nancy); daughter Connie Kantor (Jim); sisters Nina Shelton Bullins (CW) and Ruth Draughon; grandchildren Christopher Roberson and Diana Hart of Washington State and Jak Kantor of Florida; three bonus grandchildren and six bonus great grandchildren; and bonus daughters Sister Lisa Christiana, Chrissy Ross (Ron), Jessica Bailey (John) and Sunny Roberson. In addition to these James leaves behind his ex-wife Sandy Roberson and numerous other nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. A celebration of life memorial service will be held on Monday December 3, 2018 at 7PM in the chapel of Companion Funeral Home located at 2419 Georgetown Rd. NW, Cleveland, TN 37311. His son Ricky will deliver a eulogy with Rev. Steve Morgan officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7PM before the service. Interment will occur on 10AM Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery. You are invited to share a personal memory of James or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com . Companion Funeral and Cremation Service and the Cody family are honored to assist the Roberson family with these arrangements.