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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 2012)
September5. 2012 a'1,e ^orttani» CObscrucr Page 5 TV Host’s Ailing Mother Dies Comes as Robin Roberts prepares for life-saving transplant (AP) — Lucimarian Roberts, the m o th e r o f "G o o d M o rn in g America" co-host Robin Roberts, has died a day after the anchor announced she was taking a m edi cal leave for a bone m arrow trans plant. The 88-year-old Roberts died in G ulfport, M iss., on Thursday night. "Robin arrived home with her sister, Sally-Ann, forging through flooded and blocked roads to be with her beloved m other in time to see her," GMA Senior Executive Tom Cibrowski said in an email to the entire news division T hurs day evening. The M ississippi area was deal ing with flooding from the effects o f Hurricane Isaac. Over the years, Lucimarian Rob erts made num erous appearances on "GMA." She was a G ulf Coast icon for more than four decades. She often was the first black woman to work with organizations and state and local agencies, and she became known for her ability to get things done. She was the first black to serve as chairm an of the M ississippi State Board of Education in the 1980s. She also had a great passion for poetry and music. Lucim arian Roberts collabo rated with her daughter on a book titled, "My Story, My Song — M other-D aughter Reflections on Life and Faith." "I sing because the music of "Good Morning America" co-host Robin Roberts (right), with her mother Lucimarian Roberts on the set in New York in 2006. the church speaks my soul lan guage," she wrote. "I sing be cause these songs are tightly woven in to the texture of who I am. "She even recorded a CD of hymns for her fam ily as a gift last year," said Cibrowski. The family was gathered in Pass C hristian, M iss., and planned a small private service, he said. The death cam e on the same day Roberts said goodbye to her co-w orkers and audience before starting her medical leave. Sally- Ann, a m orning anchor at WWL- TV in New O rleans, is donating the m arrow to her sister. Robin Roberts' departure had been set for Friday. But in a last- m inute change o f plans, she told her viewers she was leaving a day early to visit her ailing mother. In a statem ent on her Facebook page, Robin Roberts said she and Sally-A nn arrived in Gulfport in time to visit with their m other be fore she died. "A CD of her favorite hymns is playing in her room. So thankful for my sister, Dorothy, and the nurses who have been caring for her. I will cherish these moments I have with mom. Then focus on what is ahead of me undergoing a bone marrow transplant." Besides her three daughters, Lucim arian Roberts is survived by a son and eight grandchildren. Her husband. Col. Lawrence E. Roberts, died in 2004 at the age of 81. He was a m em ber o f the all black U.S. Army Air Corps, also called the Tuskegee Airm en. He served in Vietnam , where he was aw arded one o f his three Legion o f Merit medals. ?» • imagine yourself working for clean rivers. . . r A llin One Boutique Customize shirts and other apparel Birthday Parties Bridal & Prom Family Reunion Your Kids Artwork Work shirts Aprons Business Hours: (Mon-Fri) 12pm-5pm (Sat-sun) closed 4747 NE MLK Blvd Portland, or 97211 Green Streets filter stormwater to protect our rivers and streams. The city keeps Green Streets working and welcomes your help with care and upkeep. • Pillowcase And Much More... Email, spsmc.jt@gmail.com Phone. (503 >896-4009 (503)290-6790 Instagram: All_In _l_Boutique w i R o w t i m \ i s i rvk i s C lT Y O I I ’O R Il A M ) v o r k in q fo r c l* a n r iv e r s ' "WHMBatiù. ■ ' ''..'i V U ‘ if Become a Green Street Steward portlandonline.com/bes/GreenStreetStewards T ’ -
