Michael Roberts, economics Extension associate, dies
Michael T. Roberts, N.C. Cooperative Extension associate in Agricultural and Resource Economics stationed at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, died Oct. 18 at Wake Forest Baptist Health Center. He was 61 years old.
Roberts, of Advance, is survived by his wife, Phala Lea Roberts and two daughters, Kristi Bennett and husband Rick of Tampa, Fla. and Sara Hepler and husband John of Clemmons, N.C.; five grandchildren, Gillian, Aedan, and Rhys Bennett and Jackson and Austin Hepler; a brother, Dana Roberts and wife Jean of Hawkins, Texas; a sister, Cindy Allen and husband Ken of Texarkana, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
He received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Averett University. Roberts worked for Virginia Cooperative Extension as a Farm Business Management Agent and most recently for N.C. State University as an Extension Agricultural Economist.
Roberts joined the N.C. State faculty on July 1, 2012. His work focused on helping people have successful farm businesses, and he wrote a weekly agricultural commodity report called the Roberts Commodity Report.
Roberts was a musician and built furniture in his spare time. He also enjoyed camping and traveling.
A graveside service will be held Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Tulip Cemetery in Tulip, Arkansas (Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home, Arkadelphia, Arkansas). A celebration of life will take place at Colonial Heights Baptist, Colonial Heights, Virginia (details pending).
The family suggests that donations be considered in Mike’s memory to Carolina Donor Services, 909 E. Arlington Blvd., Greenville, NC 27858 or Center Grove Baptist Church, Mission Scholarships, 8750 Lasater Road, Clemmons, NC 27012.
