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Ms. Hilda Roberts Merritt, age 83, a resident of Washington, died Thursday, July 29, 2021 after a brief stay at Ridgewood Manor Nursing Home.

Graveside services will be held 11:00 am Saturday, July 31, 2021 at Oakdale Cemetery, Washington, conducted by Pastor Ken Hall.

Ms. Merritt was born in Washington on May 16, 1938.  She was the daughter of the late Rufus Benjamin Roberts and Hilda Johnson Roberts.   Ms. Merritt was a retired Junior High and High School teacher.  She was a past recipient of the Outstanding Young Educator Award by the Salisbury, Maryland, Jaycees, and the Outstanding Teacher Award by the Lumberton Board of Education.  Ms. Merritt was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the WOW Red Hat Society.  In her spare time, she enjoyed working in her yard, collecting bells and glassware, and eating butter pecan ice cream in a waffle cone.

Ms. Merritt is survived by her sister, Susan Roberts Lanier of Atlantic Beach; two brothers, Rufus Benjamin Roberts, Jr. of Washington, Thomas Johnson Roberts of Clayton; two nieces, Leigh Lanier Hrazdira (Ivan F. B.), Nicole Lanier Burnette (Hunter H.); four great nieces, Olivia McLean Burnette, Ashley Martin Burnette, Katherine Alexandra Hrazdira, Lily Lanier Hrazdira and several cousins.

In addition to her parents, Ms. Merritt was preceded in death by her sister, Nancy Roberts Engelhardt and her husband, Dr. Roland F. Engelhardt and brother-in-law, Dr. Gene D. Lanier.

The family will receive friends following the service at the graveside.

Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 304 West Second Street, Washington, N.C.  27889.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington is honored to serve the Roberts family.