Celeste Hamrick Roberts (Ouma) passed away peacefully on June 6, 2021 from natural causes.

She was born in Shelby NC on June 2, 1923, the oldest child of Charles Oren and Margaret Wellman Hamrick. She attended Meredith College and graduated from the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Journalism. However as fate would have it, she opted to marry her high school sweetheart, John Branton Roberts and together they raised three children; "Brant", Mary Celeste and Charles. John was a US Navy pilot earning the designation of Lieutenant Commander which took them to Bahrain. Other travels were South Africa prior to the Apartheid uprising in 1975, Beirut during the Civil War in 1980, Europe, Canada as well as the US. They also resided in Kingsport Tennessee, Blowing Rock, NC and Walnut Hill Farms in Cross Anchor, SC. After John's death in 1983, Celeste returned to Shelby and resided with her mother Margaret Hamrick. Celeste was a breath of fresh air to whomever she met and could be described as one of the most gracious, genuine, unpretentious, non-judgmental individuals that you would have been lucky enough to have met. She was a member of First Baptist Church, several book clubs, and loved to play bridge. Family beach trips were always a favorite time for her.

Those who preceded her in death include her parents, granddaughter Celeste Branton Wilson, son John Branton "Brant" Roberts, Jr., brother Julian Hamrick, sister Elizabeth "Liz" Brady, sister in law Evelyn McPhaul, and brothers in law Verne Shive, Graham McPhaul, nephew Verne Shive, Jr and niece Sally Hamrick. Also Lawrence and Clevie Roberts, her husband's parents.

She is survived by daughter Celeste Wilson (Shelby), son Charles Lawerence Roberts and wife Lee (Charlotte), sisters in law Sara Ellen Hamrick (Shelby) Margaret Craig (Gastonia) daughter-in-law Margaret Roberts (Johnson City, TN) brother in law John Brady (Winston Salem).

In addition, grandsons George Wilson and wife Victoria (Harpers Ferry, WVA), John Wilson and wife Meghan. (Charlotte), Granddaughters Mary Katherine Small and husband Karl (Germantown, TN), Claire Branton Evans, husband Paul, (Memphis,TN) and grandchildren Marsden Haigh and Elizabeth Swain.

Great grandchildren Ella and Hayes Wilson, Olivia and Branton Evans, Cameron Celeste Small, great grandchildren Lily and Ian Swain and London and Brooks Haigh.

Also surviving are many amazing nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00am on Friday, June 11, 2021 in the Chapel of Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory with Rev. Daria Reagan officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10:00am to 11:00am at the funeral home.

Thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers during this time. We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Hospice Cleveland County for their extraordinary staff and care. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Hospice Cleveland County, Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library and First Baptist Church of Shelby.

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.

Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com