Chester Lee Roberson, Jr., was born to Chester Lee Roberson Sr. and Florine Roberson (née Hopskins) on January 21, 1948. He was the second of five children (the oldest son) and lived with his family in Durham, NC. During his formative years, Chester attended Lion Park Elementary School, Sheppard and Whitted Middle Schools, and Hillside High School. He was a quiet, reflective child, often observant and living in his head. He loved apples and was loath to share any of his stash with his siblings!

Chester began his college career at North Carolina A&T (Go Aggies!), where he met the beautiful Gratchen McMillian, and their relationship blossomed. During Chester’s sophomore year, he voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Before leaving for the Navy, Chester married Gratchen McMillian in Durham on May 22, 1968. Their first child, Kim, was born later that year. After being discharged from the U.S. Navy, Chester returned home to his bride and daughter and settled in Columbia, Maryland, where he worked as an HVAC mechanic. While in Maryland, Chester and Gratchen had two more children, Nakita (1973) and Chester, III (1974), rounding out the family. He later established himself with Norfolk Southern Railway as assistant building superintendent. Following a promotion, the family relocated to Atlanta, GA.

In Atlanta, Chester thrived in his career. After leaving Norfolk Southern Railway, Chester operated an HVAC service and repair business, obtained his real estate broker's license, sold real estate, and even had a contract with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to deliver lost luggage. While in Atlanta, Chester and Gratchen moved the family to the ‘gray house’ in Fairburn, GA, where the family continued to thrive.

In 1995, after his first daughter, Kim, married and Nakita graduated from university, Chester and Gratchen moved to Savannah, GA. In Savannah, Chester worked as an HVAC mechanic for various companies while returning to school to complete his associate’s degree in HVAC. He later taught as an adjunct professor at Savannah Technical College. Chester retired in 2013. Once retired, Mr. Chester Lee Roberson, Jr., stayed retired, even through not-so-veiled threats from his wife, Gratchen!

During retirement, Chester continued mentoring his students and helping them establish their own HVAC service businesses. He also bonded with his favorite chair in his living room and watched every Western movie ever made!For his bride Gratchen, Chester would drive her and her sorority sisters to various sorority conferences, often finding ‘shortcuts’ that miraculously made those trips longer but more fun – it's the journey, not the destination! Chester and Gratchen also traveled to their favorite vacation spots (anywhere with a beach) and hosted and visited their children and grandchildren for the holidays and special occasions.

On May 22, 2018, Chester and Gratchen celebrated 50 years of marriage with family and friends through their long-awaited wedding. Both mothers, Florine H. Roberson and Hattie B. McMillian, were in attendance along with a host of family and friends.

Chester was an avid seeker of knowledge, a loving husband, a devoted father, and a doting grandfather and great-grandfather. Family was important to him. Chester loved his mother fiercely and enjoyed spending time with his siblings, siblings by marriage, and cousins. Whenever they got together, you could hear them cuttin’ up a mile away!

On May 13, 2026, at the age of 78, Chester L. Roberson, Jr., went to be with the Lord. He is survived by his wife, Gratchen M. Roberson; his mother, Florine H. Roberson; his aunt, Nettie Dunn; his three children, Kim A. Westbury (William), Nakita K. Burrell (Terrence), and Chester L. Roberson, III; his seven grandchildren, Denzel Cunningham, Trevin Roberson, Brandon Westbury (Monica), Kealyn Westbury, Alexis Westbury, Alicia Roberson, and Aniyah Roberson; his four siblings, Minnie Harrington (Eugene, deceased), Eric Roberson (Joe Anne), Toni Evans, and Sarah Duncan (Johnny); his siblings through marriage, James T. McMillian, Jr. (Vergie) and Donald McMillian (Patricia); 12 nephews and nieces; nine great-grandchildren; and a host of loving cousins, family, and friends.

Chester was preceded in death by his father, Chester Lee Roberson, his father-in-law, James T. McMillian, and his mother-in-law, Hattie B. McMillian.

A viewing will be held on June 5, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Adams Funeral Services, 510 Stephenson Avenue, Savannah, GA 31405.

A celebration of life will take place the next day, June 6, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Greater Gaines Chapel A.M.E. Church, 1006 May Street, Savannah, Georgia. **This service will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6Qjr6Gw2LgmWHnmq4T6w and also shared to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/adamsfuneralservices

We take this time to honor and remember Chester Lee Roberson, Jr. and the life he lived.

In Lieu of flowers, you can donate to the American Heart Association on behalf of Mr. Chester Roberson, Jr.