Velda Dodson Roberts, the second daughter of Joie and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Baker Dodson, was born December 22, 1927 in the Big Sinking community of Wayne County. She joined and older sister, Ruby, in the family. Velda also had another sister, Lela, who was about 10 years younger.

She attended the Big Sinking School at Pueblo through the eighth grade. Later, she obtained her high school diploma by getting her GED from Wayne County. She gave credit to Mr. Clarence Bates, who was Superintendent of Wayne County Schools at the time, for helping her.

As she grew up in Pueblo, she and her sister were often seen in the fields helping their parents with the farm work. (Neighbors)

Since her family didn't have a vehicle until later years, horseback was one of the fastest ways of travel. She remembered that as a child, she rode behind one of her parents on a blanket awhile going into town. She said she could hear the horse's hoofs on the Pike after they had ridden 4 miles across the hill from their home. (Her words)

She and her family attended the Big Sinking Baptist Church. At the age of 12, she was baptized in the Big Sinking Creek by Wiley Jones, who was her Pastor. He lived in McCreary County and rode a horse across the Little South Fork River to the Church. She remembered (with humor) that he said when the river was up, he had to take his feet out of the stirrups and hold them up to keep them from getting wet.

She was married to Richard Roberts, and after they were married, they lived in the Number One Community and attended the New Charity Baptist Church.

Richard was a veteran of WWII, and while he was in the Army, he separated the living from the dead, on Omaha Beach. When he came home from the War, he was housed for medical care in Danville, Kentucky along with other veterans who were wounded.

Richard died at the age of 59. She remembered that he had gone to the mailbox, came back, sat down in his chair, breathed three times and died. They were married for 16 years.

During their marriage, Richard worked at a flooring mill in Monticello, and she worked at the garment factories.

She liked to fill out surveys and enter contests that came in the mail. She also sent money to various churches when they asked for donations.

Sometime, in her eighties, she fell and broke her hip. She spent some time in a nursing home to recover. Then she moved into the home of her sister, Ruby Bell. Since both of them had serious health problems and unable to care for themselves, Velda was taken to the Summerwoods Nursing Home in Somerset.

[This was written from notes found in Velda's personal items and from remembrances from friends and neighbors.]

Velda passed away at the age of 92 on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at the Summerwoods Nursing and Rehab Facility.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, Joie and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Baker Dodson; her husband Richard Roberts; as well as, her 2 sisters, Ruby Bell and Lela Crowe.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, June 26, 2020 at 1 pm at the Elk Spring Cemetery with burial to follow.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, and upon recommendations from the Governor's Office for Funeral Homes, there will be some limitations and restrictions for service attendance. Please feel free to sign the online guestbook or send a private condolence message through our website.

Hickey Funeral Home of Monticello, KY in charge of the arrangements.