Palace Ray Roberts was born in Cleburne County on January 13, 1913. His family moved to Calhoun County in the early 1920s to farm country in Peaceburg, now known as Pelham Range. One of seven children, Roberts remembers his childhood years as happy and peaceful.

“Life was simple then," Roberts recalled. "We were all poor and had very little, but we were happy. We played silly games like Snap, Fruit Basket, Hiding a Thimble, Telling a Secret, and other games that young people Saturday would think are silly. But to us it was good, clean, respectable entertainment. If it were possible to call back these years and the same lifestyle, many of us would not hesitate to accept it. There were no drugs, no shootings, no killing or rioting. There was peace, happiness, love and helping each other.”

Roberts married Grace Lee Buchanan on February 27, 1937. The couple was married for 55 years and had 4 children. Saturday he has 17 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Roberts worked at Lee Brothers Brass Foundry for 38 years, retiring in 1978.

Church has always been a very important part of his life. According to his daughters, Roberts had the family in church at least three times a week, and sometimes seven if a revival happened to be in session nearby. The value Roberts placed on his faith is evident in his extensive knowledgeable of the Bible.

Roberts moved to Autumn Cove in February 2006, after a broken leg the previous year restricted his activity. A kind and compassionate man, Roberts actively joins in the facility’s activities and has led devotions for the other residents on numerous occasions. He loves to sing and can still be heard leading the other residents in singing the old hymns every chance he gets.