Mrs. Roberta Newborn was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma to the late Reverend Robert E. Lee and

Mrs. Cordelia Lee (Williams-maiden name) (previously Mason)

She was preceded in death by her husband, Timothy Newborn Jr.

If you knew anything about Roberta, she was a gentle giant with a kind soul and a great sense

of humor. If she thought something was wrong, she knew exactly how to “tell it like it was”.

Most of her kids called her mama, only one called her “Obutta”. All of her grandchildren called

her nanny which was picked by her first grandchild, Dewon Wells, who also preceded her in

death.

Roberta worked for many years as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Arkansas Health Center until

she retired from the state. Being a very active lady, she was unable to sit still, so she went to

work part-time as a bus monitor for First Step until her health began to fail.

When Roberta was not working, she enjoyed relaxing on her front porch, admiring the scenery,

and receiving company. She liked playing her games on the computer and watching westerns.

On occasion, she might take a charter bus to a casino. Most of all, she loved the company of her

kids and grandkids.

Although Roberta loved to laugh and have a good time, her roots were in the church. Her father

was an old school COGIC preacher, and her rearing was very strict. She was never allowed to

miss church as she was growing up. Wearing pants was not an option in the Lee household.

Roberta was preceded in death by all of her siblings, and she was the last born of seven

children. She was the only child born from the Lee union as the other siblings were born from a

Mason marriage. Four brothers preceded her, Shelly Cleophus “Sonny” Mason, David Charles

Mason, George Washington Jr. “Junior” Mason, and Ezell Mason were all from Tulsa, OK. Two

sisters, Betty Mason Lowe of Compton, CA, and Dorothy Mason Gardner, lived in Tulsa, OK.

Roberta also lost her daughter, Patricia Traylor “Jill” and her daughter, Jasmin Thomas, which

was a granddaughter to the deceased prior to her passing. Another granddaughter, Kiana Lee,

preceded her in death as well.

Survivors include four sons, Charles Lee (Sabrenna) of Little Rock, Eric Wells (Hanan) of Texas,

Stephen Newborn, Christopher Newborn both of Malvern, one daughter, Cynthia Wells of

Malvern, two other children Lester Newborn (Martha) of Malvern and Phyllis Newborn of CA,

and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other family members.