Genova "Jean" Roberts

Genova (Jean) Roberts, age 81, was welcomed to her heavenly reward on November 23, 2022. After a full day of praising GOD through the pain and singing in the midst of the storm, she took her place in the great cloud of witnesses, united with those who have gone before. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, November 27, 2022 at Clifton Funeral Home. Burial will take place at 9:00 A.M. Monday, November 28, 2022 at Clifton Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 12:00-2:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 27, 2022 at Clifton Funeral Home. 

Jean was born on September 14, 1941, to Colbert and Bertha Benefield in La Grange, GA, and married Billy Ray Roberts on August 22, 1959. They were blessed with two daughters, Donna Jill and Sandy Lynn. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings Arthur Benefield and Letha Hart, and son-in-law Bill Edwards, husband of Jill. She is survived by daughter, Donna Jill Edwards of San Antonio; daughter Sandy Lynn Dool and husband Rev. Richard Dool of Waco; grandchildren, Angel Plemons and husband Rev. Carey Plemons of Pleasanton; Anthony Edwards of Robinson; Rev. Brittney Dool of San Angelo; Rev. Colton Dool of Waco; and great-granddaughters Astrid Amanda Bright and BellaRose Ruth Plemons of Pleasanton.

Jean's family was sharecroppers from Georgia, where she attended school and then moved to Texas at the age of 17. It did not take long for this beautiful Georgia peach to meet and fall in love with her Texas cowboy. Jean and Billy met in April 1959 on his birthday, marrying in August of the same year. Their journey began as farmers and ranchers. Then in 1972, they moved to Clifton, where they lived the remainder of their lives.

She was raised as a third-generation Apostolic, but it would not be until after she was married that she embraced The Lord in all HIS fullness, as preached on the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. She would follow the instructions given by Peter in verse 38 of Repentance, Baptism in Jesus' Name, and receiving the infilling of the Holy Ghost. 

In the years to come, two daughters would bless this marriage. They wanted their girls to have it better than they did; moreover, they wanted them to love Jesus with all their hearts and lead by example.  The result of faithfulness, love, and stewardship is a call of ministry that would rest upon the lives of each family member. You name the position from door greeter, toilet cleaner, singer, musician, teacher, and preacher; they have fulfilled it all.  Love for one another and the work of the Lord is their greatest legacy.

You cannot speak of one without the other. The hallmark of Jean and Billy's relationship with each other, their family, the church, the community, and God was that they were cheerful givers. Jean and Billy gave their tithe, time, and talent; they never gave up – on themselves, others, or God. Jean spent her days raising money by baking Banana Nut Bread for missions, building projects, families in hard times, and community charities, such as the Lutheran Sunset Home Quilt Raffle – where she individually outsold all other volunteers combined.

Known to all as "The Bread Lady." It all began at church in 2000; each lady was given a $5 talent. They were told to use the money to earn more for an offering to be provided to missionaries. Using the money, she purchased her first ingredients to make her now-famous Banana Nut Bread. She sold her bread far and wide. The number of miles driven did not matter. The number of loaves sold cannot be counted. The money was going to someone in need.  

Although not accomplished, she played the piano, guitar, banjo, and harmonica. She used her limited talent to teach many people the basic building blocks of music from which they excelled. She held church services in her dining room, each grandchild taking turns as the guest preacher or singer. She was your biggest encourager and number one fan if you shared a dream or desire with her.

She had a great love for GOD's word. Faithfully she read the Bible daily for devotion and with her husband. In 1977, she encouraged her girls to get involved in Bible Quizzing; an entire book of the Bible was learned verbatim in the KJV over nine months. It was a way to help them gain a love of scripture and dig into its truths. Both girls would become coaches of Quiz Teams, and Jill married a Quiz coach from North Carolina. Jean traveled with all the teams listening to them recite scriptures in preparation, even memorizing the material herself. Bible Quizzing was so ingrained in the family that even her grandchildren Angel and Anthony got involved as early as seven years old and on through their teenage years. Angel went on to become a third-generation Quiz coach. 

As a farmer and rancher's wife, she knew the value of planting a seed and quality cultivation. She was content to plant, water, and watch God give the increase. The young people she invested in loved her greatly; some even came to see her in person or FaceTimed during her final hours. Even then, encouraging them to continue honing their skills and to live for GOD with all their heart. She stated on her final day, "I did not have much talent, but what GOD gave me, I used for Him and others."   

Her final request was to express her gratitude and thanks to everyone who purchased her bread or other goodies, donated, or bought the Quilt Raffle tickets.  

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