Rev. John E. Roberts (1927-2021)

Jul. 11—The Rev. John E. Roberts, longtime pastor of the church he joined at its founding 75 years ago, who offered counsel beyond his congregation, died Friday in ProMedica Ebeid Hospice, Sylvania. He was 94.

"If he would tell you, he just wore out," said the Rev. Willie Perryman, who regarded the pastor as a spiritual mentor. "He's really been in declining health the last couple years."

Pastor Roberts stepped aside in March from his duties at Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church. He became a member when the late Rev. W.J. Stephenson founded the congregation in February, 1946, and became the church's fourth pastor on Jan. 17, 1965.

"It wasn't something that I sought out," Pastor Roberts told The Blade in 2005, "but the Holy Spirit inspired me to become a preacher."

He demurred when reminded that a street bears his name and that Indiana Avenue Baptist's fellowship hall was named for him and Pastor Stephenson. Toledo City Council in 2008 designated City Park Avenue from Indiana to Dorr Street as "Rev. Dr. John E. Roberts Way."

"It's mostly just for being around a long time," Pastor Roberts said in 2017.

Pastor Perryman said his mentor was "the ultimate pillar, the ultimate example of urban cleric."

In June, at a celebration service in Pastor Roberts' honor, speakers included Bishop Robert Culp of First Church of God; U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo), and Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz.

"There is no bar. He set the example so high you can't see it — beyond the clouds," his son Tracy said Saturday. "No one knows how he did all the hospital visits, how he cared so much. He was in a category by himself."

Pastor Roberts' activity extended beyond the sanctuary. He offered the invocation at Toledo council meetings and appeared at news conferences in support of civic causes. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Pastor Roberts joined an interfaith group of clerics in a remembrance and prayer service.

"He was highly respected and easy to like," Bishop Culp said Saturday. "He didn't think in terms of me and mine. He thought in terms of the city. That's why pastors were willing to seek out his counsel. He had experience, but he also had wisdom and used them well."

Pastor Roberts could communicate "with all facets and all types of people," Pastor Perryman said, "politicians, the homeless, Christians, believers, nonbelievers."

He preferred to negotiate and work behind the scenes.

"He was a man of equality. He could be a politician, a civil rights activist. Civil rights were high on his priority list," said Pastor Perryman, pastor of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church and president of the NAACP Toledo branch.

"In a way, he had a different style of getting so much done," Pastor Perryman said, adding, "He didn't want anyone bragging about what he did."

He was born March 9, 1927, in Bryant, Miss., to Melvina and George Roberts. He came to Toledo at age 17 to be with his mother after his grandfather's death. He attended Scott High School and was a Libbey High School graduate. His employment included the Martin Box plant and Toledo Steel and Tube. He retired from the Toledo Public Schools, where he was a bus driver.

He had a range of duties at the church before he became pastor, from usher and choir member to janitor, trustee, deacon, and Sunday school teacher. He had two bachelors' degrees from the former Toledo Bible College and master's and doctoral degrees from International Bible College.

As pastor, he oversaw construction projects that expanded the church building's footprint as membership increased and as he aimed to serve the community.

In a secular distinction, Pastor Roberts was the first customer in 1965 of Buckeye CableSystem, as it was known then. He was honored for his patronage in 2015 at Buckeye's 50th anniversary. Block Communications Inc. owns Buckeye and The Blade.

His son the Rev. Derrick Roberts died Dec. 13, 2017.

Surviving are his wife, the former Bernice Thompson, whom he married April 6, 1950; sons the Rev. Jeffrey and Tracy Roberts; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2-6 p.m. Friday in Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church, where a family hour will begin at 6 p.m. and a homegoing service will begin at 7 p.m. Arrangements are by Dale-Riggs Funeral Home.