Funeral director & embalmer. A graduate of Los Angeles High School, his father founded the first black owned mortuary, A.J. Roberts, in Los Angeles in 1905 and 9th Street and Maple Avenue, and taught his son the trade. He took over his the business after his father retired in 1916. His brother, Fred Madison Roberts was the first black Republican assemblyman in the state of California from 1915-1936. At the time of his death he was reported to be the oldest living embalmer in the state and the oldest living Past Master of the Masonic lodge, Holland #20. His sister and brother assisted in the funeral home operations. He retired in 1965 and settled on 80 acres ranch in Apple Valley. The funeral home merged with Angelus Funeral Home in 1956. He died just a few days after suffering a stroke. His daughter had visited him only the day before and he had been in the garden tending to his vegetables and flowers and baked a pie. Mr. Roberts is also the great grandson of Thomas Jefferson.
Funeral director & embalmer. A graduate of Los Angeles High School, his father founded the first black owned mortuary, A.J. Roberts, in Los Angeles in 1905 and 9th Street and Maple Avenue, and taught his son the trade. He took over his the business after his father retired in 1916. His brother, Fred Madison Roberts was the first black Republican assemblyman in the state of California from 1915-1936. At the time of his death he was reported to be the oldest living embalmer in the state and the oldest living Past Master of the Masonic lodge, Holland #20. His sister and brother assisted in the funeral home operations. He retired in 1965 and settled on 80 acres ranch in Apple Valley. The funeral home merged with Angelus Funeral Home in 1956. He died just a few days after suffering a stroke. His daughter had visited him only the day before and he had been in the garden tending to his vegetables and flowers and baked a pie. Mr. Roberts is also the great grandson of Thomas Jefferson.
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