Cary Roberts

When Cary Roberts enrolled for an Elderhostel (today Road Scholar) trip in 1999, little did she imagine that she would meet her future husband, Robert C. Roberts (deceased November 1, 2021), and move from Atlanta, Georgia, to Lynchburg, Virginia.   Married in August 2000 and once settled in her new home, Cary, over the following decades, became active in several community groups and projects serving on the boards of Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, Academy Center of Fine Arts, Adult Care Center, Jefferson Choral Society, Dante Organization, Beacon of Hope, and Opera on the James.  She ranks involvement with Forte Chamber Music as her favorite activity.  Both she and Robert served as Elders at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Born in Paulsboro, N.J., Cary graduated from Middletown Township High School in Leonardo, N.J, and subsequently matriculated at Bucknell University where she made many dear friends with whom she remains in touch, earned a B.A. in English, and a Pennsylvania Secondary Teaching Certificate.  After a year and a half at Penn State studying for her Master’s, she married and moved to Boston, Mass., where, unable to get a teaching job, she became the secretary to the Executive Secretary of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in their main office.  

In 1959, she and her spouse moved to Savannah, Georgia, where Cary began her English teaching career at Savannah High School and became a member of, and active in, the Presbyterian Church.  Another move, this time to Marietta, Ga., provided Cary the opportunity to complete her Master’s studies and receive her M.A. in English from Georgia State University while teaching English at Sprayberry High School. 

Two sons, John and Tim Walsh, appeared on the scene in the 1960s, about the time that Cary began night teaching as Assistant Professor of English at what was then Kennesaw Junior College (900 students, 1964)) and today is known as Kennesaw State University with over 43,000 students. In 1978, Cary completed Ph.D. studies in English from Georgia State University and became a full Professor. 

After a divorce, Cary met and was blessed by marriage to William H. Turner, who worked at Lockheed and was a church organist.  She became an Elder in the local Presbyterian Church and Bill was a church organist at the Christian Science Church in Atlanta, so they could not worship together, but their lives were knit together by faith in God and shared values and interests.  Son Will (a “jr.”)  was born in 1975; married, he and Molly have one child, a girl named “Poppy,” who was born May 3, 2022.

Bill died in Dec. of 1993, leaving Cary widowed for five years—which is where this biographical résumé begins.