Doris H. Roberts of Raleigh, formerly of Richmond, VA, passed away at home in Raleigh on May 3, 2020. She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Irving Roberts of Richmond VA.
Born on December 17, 1927 in Rock Ridge, near Wilson, North Carolina, she lived there until the age of nine when she relocated to New York City with her mother, a nurse. There she attended The Julia Richman High School, as well as the School of Industrial Arts and the Pratt Institute. Doris also worked for fashion designer Hattie Carnegie prior to relocating to Richmond.
In Richmond she raised a family, and in the early seventies began speculating in residential real estate, remodeling houses in the Fan district. Doris and her husband opened the Fan Garden Shop and operated it along with two other locations.Passionate about the art of ikebana, she served as president of Ikebana International Chapter 130 twice and once with Ikebana of Richmond. She also was instrumental in helping to write the first curriculums for horticulture at the J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.
After selling the Fan Garden shop, she formed Doris Roberts Ltd. Special Events Planning. Through this, she was involved in the opening of the VCU School of Engineering, the first Market Art Auction, many organizational fundraisers, and numerous private clients.
Doris was active with the Women’s Committee of the Richmond Symphony, involved with most Fantasy Balls, and founded The Mosque Club. She co-chaired the first Symphony Designer House.
For more than thirty years she was involved with the National Alliance of the Mental Illness (NAMI), where she was an advocate and served as president of the central Virginia chapter. In 2004, she co-chaired the first state of Virginia NAMIWALK for the Mind of America.In 2003, with her oldest son Ray, Doris moved back to be closer to family members in North Carolina. In Raleigh, she spent her time playing bridge, supporting the arts in the area as well, and enjoying her friends and family.
Born on December 17, 1927 in Rock Ridge, near Wilson, North Carolina, she lived there until the age of nine when she relocated to New York City with her mother, a nurse. There she attended The Julia Richman High School, as well as the School of Industrial Arts and the Pratt Institute. Doris also worked for fashion designer Hattie Carnegie prior to relocating to Richmond.
In Richmond she raised a family, and in the early seventies began speculating in residential real estate, remodeling houses in the Fan district. Doris and her husband opened the Fan Garden Shop and operated it along with two other locations.Passionate about the art of ikebana, she served as president of Ikebana International Chapter 130 twice and once with Ikebana of Richmond. She also was instrumental in helping to write the first curriculums for horticulture at the J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.
After selling the Fan Garden shop, she formed Doris Roberts Ltd. Special Events Planning. Through this, she was involved in the opening of the VCU School of Engineering, the first Market Art Auction, many organizational fundraisers, and numerous private clients.
Doris was active with the Women’s Committee of the Richmond Symphony, involved with most Fantasy Balls, and founded The Mosque Club. She co-chaired the first Symphony Designer House.
For more than thirty years she was involved with the National Alliance of the Mental Illness (NAMI), where she was an advocate and served as president of the central Virginia chapter. In 2004, she co-chaired the first state of Virginia NAMIWALK for the Mind of America.In 2003, with her oldest son Ray, Doris moved back to be closer to family members in North Carolina. In Raleigh, she spent her time playing bridge, supporting the arts in the area as well, and enjoying her friends and family.