Ellie Viola (Twine) Roberts

On April 25, 2026, Mother Ellie Viola Twine Roberts peacefully transitioned to her heavenly home with the Lord. She fought a good fight, finished her course, and kept the faith.

Mother Ellie Viola Twine Roberts was born on September 5, 1924, in Tyner, North Carolina, to Alma Twine and Bertha White Twine. She was the eldest of six children and was raised in a loving yet disciplined Godly home.

She graduated from Edenton High School and later attended Temple University. Upon returning home, she married the love of her life, Adolphus “Dot” Roberts, to whom she was married to for 55 blessed years. In 1947, they relocated to Norfolk, Virginia, where she rededicated her life to the Lord Jesus Christ. As she said, “I turned from the darkness into the light and never went back.”

Mother Roberts became a faithful member of C H. Mason Memorial Church of God in Christ in Norfolk, known as The Mother Church. She later joined Christ Cathedral Church of God in Christ and eventually Living Faith. Wherever she went, she served with dedication and humility.

Her commitment to the Lord was unwavering. She served in numerous capacities, including church secretary, announcer for Sunday night radio service donations, and choir mother for the Children and Youth Choirs. She was also a member of the Young Women’s Holiness League, the Mothers Board, and served as an Evangelist Missionary. Known as a true prayer warrior, Mother Roberts had a heart devoted to intercession.

With a deep love for children, she became a foster parent and faithfully cared for children for 17 years. Her service extended beyond the church into her community, where she worked as a precinct poll worker in the Huntersville section of Norfolk.

Mother Roberts was a woman of many talents and passions. She loved hats and earned certificates in millinery and ceramics, often sharing that she made over 100 hats—giving every one of them away.

At the age of 59, she began working at the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) in Virginia Beach as a prayer counselor. For 15 years, she faithfully ministered to others, never viewing her role as work, but as a calling. She led over 2,500 souls to Christ. When honored as Employee of the Month, she joyfully celebrated the recognition—including the special parking space.

Even after retiring from CBN, Mother Roberts remained active in ministry, including nursing home visitation. When she could no longer travel, she continued to encourage and pray from her chair. She loved the Lord with all her heart and desired that everyone she encountered would come to know that same love. Truly, once you met Mother Roberts, you would never forget her.

In her later years, she moved to Virginia Beach to live with her son, AD, and later relocated to Southern California, where she lived with her daughter and family for 11 years.

Mother Roberts was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Adolphus Roberts, Sr.; her parents, Alma and Bertha Twine; her son Kirk Roberts; her daughter Gloria Outlaw; her brother, Lloyd Twine; and her sisters, Carnez Hunter, Mary Perry, and Alma Jean Collins.

She leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter, Jean R. Barge of Pomona, California; her sons, A. Douglas Roberts of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Arlis Parker (Lisa) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; her sister, Ida T. Hall of Edenton, North Carolina; her daughter-in-law, Cheryl McCown of Norfolk, Virginia; and her sister-in-law, Katherine Twine of Tyner, North Carolina.

She is also lovingly remembered by her 11 grandchildren: Harland Roberts (Nicole) (Virginia Beach, VA), John Barge III (Pomona, Ca) Adolphus Barge (Pomona, CA), Jasmine Duncan (Ronald) (Suffolk, VA), La Quiesha Parker (Virginia Beach, VA), Marcus Barge (Brianna) (Long Beach, CA), Megan Barge Finister (Freddie) (Pomona, CA), Ricardo McCown (La Shawn) (Virginia Beach, VA), DeAndray Parker (Virginia Beach, VA), Joy Harper (James) (Houston, TX), and Iesha McCown (Norfolk, VA); along with 14 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, a goddaughter, and dear friends.

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