Lipscomb mourns the loss of College of Business's Nane Roberts

Nane Roberts, a fixture in the Lipscomb University College of Business for more than two decades, passed away Tuesday morning, Feb. 2, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

 

Mrs. Roberts was a member of the Lipscomb community for more than 25 years. A 1962 graduate of the university, Mrs. Roberts began her career at Lipscomb in Jan. 1969 as a speech teacher at David Lipscomb High School. In Jan. 1973, she left the classroom to spend time caring for her young family. In Sept. 1988, Mrs. Roberts returned to Lipscomb as an administrative assistant in the College of Business, a position she held until the time of her death.

 

Although battling lung cancer for several years, Mrs. Roberts was known for her positive attitude and great rapport with faculty and students. In recent months, her condition appeared to be improving.

 

“Nane Roberts’ sudden passing has shocked and saddened all of us in the College of Business. She was the administrative support for the undergraduate faculty for many, many years and never arrived at work without a smile and a kind word,” said Turney Stevens, dean of the College of Business.

 

Colleagues from the College of Business remember her kindness and love of life.

 

“Being associated with Nane Roberts has been one of the great blessings of working in the College of Business. The three words that come to me are competent, conscientious, and caring,” said Bill Ingram, professor of business and administration and academic chair of the Department of Finance and Economics.

 

“In addition to effectively dealing with her many responsibilities she made sure that all COB birthdays were recognized with a group card and cake.  She loved Lipscomb, she loved her job, and she exhibited Christ's love to whomever she worked with. 

 

Susan Galbreath, professor of accounting and associate provost for academic administration and strategic initiatives, said Mrs. Roberts was her source of “information” on campus.

 

“In the College of Business, Nane was the one person I could rely on to be ‘in the know’ about how to accomplish anything we needed on campus.  She knew everyone on campus and knew who was the best person to contact to help a student with a scheduling issue or assist a faculty member with a classroom change,” said Galbreath. “Nane could do it all!  And, to top it off Nane was always pleasant. She was so strong and courageous during her battle with cancer.  She faced it with her faith surrounding her for strength and continued to contribute to the college, even in recent days. She will be missed.”

 

Randy Steger, professor of business administration, takes credit for hiring her in the College of Business.

 

“I was the one that hired Nane many years ago,” said Steger. “On that day I did interviewing for the Adult studies program, I had four people lined up to interview. Before the interview, I had three Lipscomb faculty and staff call me to say that they knew Nane and it would be a smart thing for me to hire her. Since the three people were Charles Frasier, Janet Cates and Gerald Fulks, what choice did I have? She was a blessing to everyone she had contact with.”

 

Mrs. Roberts is the third of three sisters to die from cancer. She is preceded in death by her sister Beth, who worked in the Adult Learning Program at Lipscomb for a number of years, sister, Cathy, and father, Paul Carman. She is survived by her husband, Doug; her children Lina and Everett; and her mother, Lena Carman.

 

“Her passing is especially anguishing for her parents who have now lost all three of her children to cancer and must now face the future with that reality. Prayers for this sweet, sweet family are earnestly solicited from all members of the Lipscomb family,” said Stevens.

 

Nane and her sister, Beth, were often seen together on campus before Beth’s death several years ago. Charles Frasier, professor of accounting and academic chair of the department, remembers that relationship not only from Lipscomb, but also worshipping together at church.

 

“Nane and Beth were very active in so many aspects of church but I have special memories of their beautiful voices,” said Frasier. “It was always a joy to sit close to them and just listen. It is difficult to think of one of the sisters without thinking of the other. For several years they worked together in the College of Business and in the Adult Studies Program.  They loved each other's company and especially enjoyed advising and helping our students.”