Annette Chappell Roberson

HENDERSON — Annette Chappell Roberson, 75, a resident of Parker Lane, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 4, 2025, at the Duke Hock Family Pavilion in Durham. Born on March 1, 1950, in Carteret County, she was the daughter of the late Albert Christopher Chappell and Jean Candler Chappell. Annette was academically gifted and deeply driven, graduating from North Carolina State University in just three years—an extraordinary accomplishment made even more impressive by the fact that she was a young mother at the time. She went on to have a long and meaningful career as a Medical Technologist (ASCP), retiring from the Vance County Health Department. While she excelled in her technical work, her true gift was her ability to comfort and reassure her patients—especially children. Her lab became a place of warmth and kindness, filled with numerous plants and drawings gifted by the young patients she encouraged and consoled. Annette was a perpetual optimist who brought joy and encouragement to everyone she met. She loved connecting with people—always eager to learn their names, hear their stories, and make them feel seen and valued. Her kindness, curiosity, and open heart touched countless lives and built deep connections in both familiar and unexpected places. She had a natural talent and deep love for cooking. Annette never needed a recipe—she simply understood how flavors worked together and had an adventurous palate. She loved trying new foods, with a special fondness for fresh seafood. A fried oyster connoisseur, she relished the opportunity to find the best local seafood spots. Many of the road trips she shared with her husband, Tommy, centered around which restaurants she wanted to try, making each journey as memorable as the destination. Annette spent her youth in Beaufort, on the North Carolina coast, where she cultivated her deep love for nature and adventure. She swam in the ocean, explored undeveloped islands, water-skied across glassy inlets, and spent afternoons drifting with her friends in the tide along the waterway in her neighborhood. These experiences helped shape her boundless curiosity, sense of joy, and lifelong connection to the natural world. She was a devoted and active member of The Church of the Holy Innocents in Henderson, where she served faithfully for many years. Annette sang in the choir, played handbells, and was a member of the vestry, altar guild, and Episcopal Church Women (ECW). Her service to the church was marked by quiet dedication. Annette had a lifelong love of music. An accomplished pianist, she also learned the ukulele in her younger years and shared her musical gifts generously with her church, family, and friends. She was passionate about sports, both as a participant and a fan. In high school, she was a majorette and played basketball. As an adult, she was the pitcher for her recreation softball team and enjoyed tennis with her friends. A proud NC State alumna, Annette was a devoted supporter of the Wolfpack, especially during football, basketball, and baseball seasons. She had a sharp mind and loved strategy games—especially cards. In her later years, she found great joy and community in several local bridge clubs, where she built lasting friendships and kept her mind stimulated. Her compassion extended to animals of all kinds. A tireless advocate for those in need, she raised and cared for a wide variety of creatures—including a rooster who rode on her bicycle handlebars, a robin named “Tweety,” several feral cats, and numerous dogs needing a loving home. She always kept her bird feeders full and delighted in the birds and wildlife that visited her yard. Annette was endlessly curious and loved science and nature. She collected seeds, bugs, leaves, and other fascinating finds to share with her grandchildren, always encouraging their own sense of discovery. One of her favorite places was the family cottage at Kerr Lake, where she found beauty, peace, and inspiration in the woods and water she so dearly loved. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at The Church of the Holy Innocents in Henderson, NC, with a reception at the church to follow the service. Annette is survived by her loving husband, Michael Thomas Roberson Sr.; her daughter, Ellen Safrit LeRoy and husband David of Emerald Isle; two sons, Michael Thomas Roberson Jr. and Charles Hunter Roberson and wife Charlie, all of Henderson; and five cherished grandchildren: Hunter Stephen LeRoy, James Candler LeRoy and wife Abigail, Michael Thomas Roberson III, Abigail Reynolds Roberson, and Meyer Rose Roberson. She is also survived by her brother, William Richard Chappell and wife Charlotte of Hampstead; and her sister-in-law, Jean H. Skinner of Oxford. In addition to her parents, Annette was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Nish Egerton Roberson, and her brother, Albert Christopher Chappell. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be mailed to the Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society, 165 US Hwy 158 Bypass, Henderson, NC 27537 or you can make a donation at RCAPS Facebook.