Sandra Shealy Roberson

Services for Sandra Maxine Shealy Roberson, of Columbia, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church. A catered reception will follow the service, with a private interment to follow at a later date. 

Mrs. Roberson, daughter of the late Emily Abbott and Bernard Belton Shealy, was born February 21, 1949, in Columbia. She graduated from Airport High School and attended both Clemson University and the University of South Carolina, graduating from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s in English. She married Rich Roberson in 1974.

Shortly after graduation, she began a career in public service at the United States District Court as a docket clerk. During her time at the court, she earned her Master’s in Public Administration from the University of South Carolina and eventually became the Chief Deputy for Administration. She traveled all over the country, attending conferences and visiting other court units to help improve their processes. One of the proudest moments in her court career was serving as the courtroom deputy clerk for the land valuation and acquisition dispute between the Beidler family and the U.S. Government for the tract of land that is now the Congaree National Park. She retired from the court in April 2010.

Sandra was an avid reader, gardener, and birder, and an active member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church. She enjoyed summer vacations with her family to Pawleys Island and Lake Jocassee and motorcycle trips all over the country with Rich. She and Rich also traveled together to Alaska, Costa Rica, France, Germany, and Italy.

In addition to her parents, Sandra was predeceased by her siblings, Ronald Elton Shealy, Barbara A. Shealy, and Bernard Belton Shealy, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Marvin Richbourg Roberson; her children, Leigh Shealy Roberson (Lucas), and Michael Richbourg Roberson (Melissa); grandsons, Aiden Richbourg Roberson and Gabriel James Roberson; and step-grandson, Ian James Sauer.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to Sadie and all the staff at Solutions for Living at Still Hopes and to the team at Amedisys Hospice for their care.

Memorials may be made to Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Living Stones Legacy Fund, 1301 Richland Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, or the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, https://give.birds.cornell.edu/.