Wayne Roberts Estate Gift and Endowment Fund Total Over $397,000 to University of Mount Olive

Wayne Roberts Estate Gift and Endowment Fund
Total Over $397,000 to University of Mount Olive

MOUNT OLIVE – The estate of the late Wayne Bryant Roberts, a longtime educator in North Carolina schools, a lifelong Presbyterian, and a devoted civic leader, has bequested $339,772 to the University of Mount Olive, much of it designated to providing scholarships to deserving students who might not otherwise be able to attend college.
More than $324,000 of the gift went to the Roberts-Swinson Endowed Fund, first established in December of 1994.  The fund now totals $397,240 and will forever provide annual student scholarships.  Another $15,000 was earmarked for campus renovations and has been designated to the University’s current Capital Campaign.

Shortly after establishing the endowment, Roberts wrote the following to his family and friends encouraging them to also support the endowment, “I wanted to make a contribution where my gifts would be needed most and help the largest number of people. So, I thought of a beloved doctor that delivered me, Dr. C.C. Henderson and he delivered most Roberts’ and Swinsons during my childhood. He had a vision for Mount Olive College and left a sizeable part of his estate to the college. Dr. Burkette Raper took the vision of Dr. Henderson and did a superior job in molding to add to that vision and leave an influence to others after we are gone. We can build a sizeable Foundation here that could give lots of young people educational opportunities. Here at Mount Olive, we could help three students in comparison to one at a larger institution.”
“Mr. Roberts could have given the bulk of his estate to any number of charities or causes, but he chose the University of Mount Olive because he knew his money would make a huge impact here for our students,” said Director of Planned Giving Teresa Hines.   “The legacy that Wayne Roberts has left the University is profound, and his gifts will continue to benefit our campus and community for years to come.  Because of his incredible generosity, the doors to the University have opened a little wider, allowing greater access and opportunity to more students.”

Roberts, a native of Duplin County, died on February 16, 2014 at the age of 83.  He was the son of the late Jesse Bryant and Lila Swinson Roberts.  He and his twin, Wyatt Elwood Roberts, were born May 26, 1930, on the family farm in the Beautancus area. He graduated from Calypso High (1948), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (AB), East Carolina University (MA), Peabody of Vanderbilt (EdS) and Appalachian State University (MA in reading). He retired after 35 years as a teacher and principal in North Carolina schools, having spent 39 years in Davidson.  He was a lifetime member of Phi Delta Kappa, NEA, and NEA-R, district president for three years for Char-Meck Retired School Personnel and state president for North Carolina Retired School Personnel 1998-2000.

In the early 1970s, Roberts served as state president for the North Carolina Council of Reading.
In 1971, he was honored by Davidson College, who presented him with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award for his humanitarian efforts in the community.  In 1984, he was the first named principal from North Carolina for the most distinguished principal, a program sponsored by NCAE and the United States Office of Education.  He was a member of the Lions Club for 50 years. He served as president and district governor (district C), and he received five commendations and awards from International Presidents plus two charters of appreciation.  Roberts enjoyed travel, visiting in every state and 85 countries.

For more information on Planned Giving, contact Teresa Hines at 919-658-7720 or email at thines@umo.edu.

The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Research Triangle Park, Washington, Jacksonville, and in Smithfield at Johnston Community College.  For more information, visit old.umo.edu.