March 8, 1931 – Nov. 27, 2019

CLEVELAND, Tennessee — A Remembrance of Life Service for the Rev. Julius Roberts, 88, who died Wednesday evening, Nov. 27, 2019, will be 11:30 a.m. today at the Jim Rush Funeral Home and Cremation Services North Ocoee Chapel with Dr. Tim Hill, Dr. Derwood L. Perkins, Pastor Brian Monehan and Pastor Troy L. Craft officiating.  
Graveside services and burial, with military honors, will follow at 2 p.m. at the Chattanooga National Cemetery with family and friends serving as casket bearers.
The family will receive friends from 10 until 11:30 a.m. today at the Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services North Ocoee Chapel who has charge of the arrangements.
Rev. Roberts was born March 8, 1931, in Morehead, one of six children born to the Rev. Bennie Lamar and Ruth Roberts.
He grew up in the country as the son of a Church of God pastor, spending most of his young life helping out in church and on the family farm in Isola. It was in church, at the Pilgrim Rest Church of God, where he met his wife of nearly 70 years, Katherine “Kat” Cockrell. Shortly after their marriage in 1950, he left to serve in the Korean War. He returned after 18 months to begin a life of strong faith, service and ministry with his Katherine. They labored together faithfully throughout the state of Mississippi, pastoring several churches, with 30 of those years spent as pastors of the McNeely Road Church of God in Natchez.
He served in numerous leadership roles, throughout his many years of ministry including serving eight years on the Editorial and Publications Board for the Church of God and serving as the State Evangelism Director for Mississippi.  Rev. Roberts was inducted into the Church of God Hall of Prophets. But, his greatest joy and calling was that of a pastor and he worked tirelessly to fulfill that role and serve God, others, and the church he loved so much.
He and Kat were preceded in death by one son, Julius “Butch” Wasson Roberts.
He was loved and will be deeply missed by his daughter, Reneé and husband, Tom; four grandchildren, Ryan and wife, Morgan, Caleb, Annalise and husband, Blake, and Carly and husband, Jackson; three great-grandchildren, Nora, Lucy and Emerson; and his friends, neighbors and church family.
Special thanks to family members, friends and the Caris Health Care team who tirelessly assisted in his care, and a very heartfelt thank you to the wonderful staff at Jim Rush Funeral Home for their unmatched kindness, and compassion in caring for our parents and family through this difficult time. We love you all!
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Rev. Julius Roberts Memorial Fund in C/O Pathway Credit Union, 2751 Ralph Buckner Blvd, Cleveland, TN 37311.  All memorials given will be sent to the charities Rev. Roberts supported. You may share your condolences and your memories with the Roberts family at www.jimrushfuneralhomes.com.