Justine Pitts Roe, age 84, a native of Mount Pleasant, Tennessee and a longtime resident of Pulaski, died Sunday, December 2, 2018. Born October 19, 1934 to Maggie Lee and Jim B. Pitts of Mount Pleasant, she graduated from Hay Long High School, Martin Methodist College, and Athens State University. At Martin College, she met the love of her life, Robert David Roe, of Pulaski, with whom she was married for over 61 years. Her marriage to Robert took her first to Colorado, where he served in the U.S. Army, and then to Knoxville where he finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee.
Following his graduation, Justine and Robert took their growing family to various homes in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina with Robert’s career in banking and finance. In 1976, they returned to Pulaski, where she remained a resident for the next 42 years. It was at this time that she attended and graduated from Athens State University, where she received a degree in early childhood education. She then began teaching kindergarten at Elkton Elementary and Richland Elementary Schools for over twenty years.
She was a lifelong Methodist and longtime member of the First United Methodist Church of Pulaski, where she served in many capacities, including Stephen Ministry, the church choir, Sunday School teacher, administrative board, circle leader, trustee and working at Matthew 25 Thrift and Gift Shoppe.
Justine was preceded in death by her parents, her six older siblings, and her husband, Robert David Roe. She is survived by her three children, Courtney Roe Mott (Bill), Emily Roe Strickland (Joe), and David Andrew Roe (Paige); and by six grandchildren, Charles Robert Mott (Lauren), Courtney Leigh Mott (Lettie), Joseph Whitsitt Strickland, Jr., Roe Barron Strickland, Rebeckah Lee Roe, and Parker David Roe. She is also survived by a large number of loving nieces, nephews and cousins, and by many loyal friends.
Justine was a remarkably caring person with many talents. She had a gift of hospitality, a loving, servant heart, and was deeply devoted to her family and friends. She was a tireless, organized, enthusiastic worker, and her cheerful and frank counsel was sought out by all who loved her. She had a deep and abiding Christian faith, and her love and encouragement to everyone was a special gift.
The family will receive friends at the First United Methodist Church, Pulaski, Tennessee, at 12:00 noon on Saturday, December 8, 2018, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 pm at the church. For those wishing to make a memorial gift, the family suggests the First United Methodist Church of Pulaski (200 West Jefferson Street, Pulaski, TN 38478), Friends of New Canaan Ranch, (5451 Columbia Hwy., Pulaski, TN 38478), Martin Methodist College (433 West Madison Street, Pulaski, TN 38478) or a charity of your choice.
