Loretta Roberts never had a husband, but you might say she was married to her nursing career.
She was an Army nurse during World War II, worked for the American Red Cross on disaster teams and taught at two nursing schools.
"She never married anybody and nursing became her obsession," said a niece, Carolyn Roberts Hill of Suwanee. "Anybody who had a cut or scrape always went to Aunt Loretta. Everybody turned to her and she produced. She could find out what was wrong or point you in the right direction."
Ms. Roberts had resided at Parc at Duluth, an independent living community, for the past eight years. She died May 16 of natural causes at Peachtree Christian Hospice in Duluth. She was 97. A memorial service has been held; Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory of Buford handled arrangements.
Ms. Roberts was a Gwinnett County native whose ancestors in 1820 built their home in Suwanee on land that's now home to the Ruby Forest subdivision off Buford Highway. She grew up in the community during the time public high schools stopped at 11th grade. One of her teachers saw her potential and she was able to attend Reinhardt High School and Junior College in Waleska.
There, she completed junior college by working in the kitchen for 9 cents an hour to pay for room, board and tuition. She earned nursing degrees from Piedmont Hospital, Vanderbilt University and the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota.
She taught for six years in Cobb and Gwinnett county public schools, then served as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. She taught at the University of Texas School of Nursing and the Emory University School of Nursing. She was executive director of the Visiting Nurse Association's Atlanta chapter for 10 years before she retired in 1979.
In retirement, she became active in Suwanee. She helped organize the Gwinnett Alliance Theater group, the Good Timers seniors group and a town chapter of the Gwinnett Historical Society.
In 1981 she became the first woman elected to the Suwanee City Council. Three years later, she played a role in starting the Suwanee Day festival, according to a history posted on the town's website.
In the article, Ms. Roberts said, "I suggested that we have a 'show and tell,' some kind of event where people could demonstrate their talents or skills. The focus was on getting people involved in the city."
She was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce's 2000 public service award and the 1988 senior of the year honor given by the Gwinnett Council for Seniors.
In October 2010 Ms. Roberts spoke at the opening ceremony of Roberts Elementary School, a campus named to honor her family's county roots.
"She did a beautiful job," said her niece, wife of former Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Wayne Hill. "She had a wonderful life and gave back a lot to the community."
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