Viva Roberson

Viva Roberson was born Viva Lee Dunn to Jessie and Stella Dunn on October 11, 1930, the third child and eldest daughter of 6. On October 8, 1947, she married the love of her life, Hubert Roberson, and together they began a life she loved and was proud of. After traveling around for Hubert’s work, living in Birmingham, Florida, and even New York, they settled down in Boaz, Alabama, where they remained for the rest of their lives. On December 9, 1958, they welcomed a baby boy, Gregory Hubert Roberson, who was definitely Viva’s proudest achievement. While raising Greg, they bought the Lion’s Den Restaurant in Sardis. The days of owning, running, and working in the restaurant were some of the happiest days of her life. Cooking and serving others were true joys for Viva. She took such pride in the restaurant, knew everyone’s name and their usual order, even grew and picked a lot of the vegetables served in her very own garden, and baked every pie and dessert with love. The restaurant provided her with the opportunity to get to know and care for so many members of the community. If you ever had a big life event (birth, sickness, death, etc.), she has more than likely brought food to your home, because that is what southern ladies did in her time, and she continued doing that till up into her 90’s. On June 30, 1978, Viva welcomed Donna Anderson Roberson into the family as her new daughter-in-law and daughter that she never had. With Greg and Donna’s birthdays only 4 days apart (December 9 and 13), she chose the 11 as their designated birthday and always celebrated them together on the 11. With that union, on January 26, 1981, the family welcomed a granddaughter, Jennifer Marie Roberson Collins. Over the moon to be a grandmother, she spoiled, shopped, and enjoyed every moment of it. Viva and Hubert truly had a love that you only read about most of the time. She used to receive roses on their anniversary, exactly the number of years they had been married. She never had to worry about gas in her tank because he always made sure it was full. They were true partners and shared a life they loved together. On December 23, 2006, almost 1 month to the day after attending and taking part in their granddaughter Jennifer’s wedding, her beloved Husband left this earth. She lived 19 years on this earth without him. In that time, she personally welcomed 2 great-granddaughters at the hospital as soon as they were born. Kyra Jade Collins was born June 5, 2008, and Bella Grace Collins missed Papa Hubert’s birthday by 2 days, joining this world September 23, 2010. Viva was a strong-willed, healthy woman who, in the years after Hubert’s passing, enjoyed her great-granddaughters, spent a lot of time with her son, her Shady Grove Baptist Church family, and did the things she loved. If you ever ate at her house, you definitely had food from her garden that she had planted, grown, picked, and prepared herself. Cooking for others and having them over for a meal gave her the greatest pleasure in life. She loved to cook, and even more than that, she loved to watch others enjoy her food. You can ask anyone who ever graced her table, and they will assure you that they never left hungry. Viva lived life to the fullest, doing all the things she enjoyed and spending time with those she loved. She missed Hubert every second of every day that they were apart, and what a reunion that must have been on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Viva is survived by her son and his wife, Greg and Donna Roberson; granddaughter and husband, Jennifer and Kreston Collins; great-granddaughters, Kyra and Bella Collins; sister and brother-in-law, Audrey and Paul Williams; a whole host of nieces and nephews; and chosen granddaughter, Nichole “Trouble” Sowell. Nichole came in to assist with some activities of daily living after Viva moved to Greg and Donna’s house and quickly connected with Viva and became part of the family. She provided excellent care and companionship to Viva in the last year and a half of her life and quickly earned the nickname Trouble. Nichole wanted to spend her last days with her and was there as a chosen granddaughter, not as a caregiver. She is preceded in death by her husband, Hubert Roberson; her parents, Jessie and Stella Dunn; her brothers, SJ, Verbon, and Wayne Dunn; and her sister, Doris THomas. The family would like to thank Southern Care New Beacon Hospice for the amazing care they provided at all hours of the day in Viva’s last month and a half in life. A special thank you to hospice nurse Brittany for being more than a nurse. Anybody can do the assessment, calling drs, ordering meds and supplies, but it takes a special person to possess the compassion, nurturing, caring personality to go with it, and Brittany is the definition of that, and the family cannot thank her enough for her loving and caring that she brought along with the nursing care. Her funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at Albertville Memorial Chapel. Bro. Wes Lowery, Bro. Larry Camp and Bro. Rickey Haygood will officiate her service. She will be laid to rest at Hillcrest Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Axton Whitten, Rick Ragsdale, Kevin Roberson, Randall Brewster, Kreston Collins and Dwight Bartlett. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Albertville Memorial Chapel Directing.

Viva Roberson

October 11, 1930 - January 20, 2026