AMHERST, Reverend Crystal L. Roberson, Pastor of Hope Community Church, has gone home to be with the Lord. Rev. Crystal, 59, died on April 5, 2014 after a brief hospitalization for complications due to asthma, a condition she lived with since childhood.

Crystal Lynn Roberson was born January 20, 1955 in Springfield, IL, the youngest child of LaVerne William Anderson and Norma Jean Brandon Anderson. She attended the Summit School in St. Paul, MN and Amherst Regional High School in Amherst, MA. In 1991, Crystal was ordained through the Life School Ministries and began her ministry as Assistant Pastor of Hope Community Church. She was installed as the Pastor of Hope in 2008 following the retirement of her brother, Rev. Carlos W. Anderson.

Throughout her ministerial leadership, Rev. Crystal led Hope Church in both a physical and spiritual restoration.  Along with the Board of Directors, she was able to procure funding for the preservation of the church building. As a result, the church was recognized for its significance in African-American history from the Town of Amherst and the Massachusetts Historical Commission.

Although restoring the building of the church was important, Rev. Crystal’s highest calling was in the physical healing of the sick. She will be known by all for her healing ministry that moved beyond the body and into the minds and hearts of those who knew her. Rev. Crystal’s deep faith was an inspiration to everyone who came into her presence.

Rev. Crystal was preceded in death by her loving husband, Kenneth Roberson; her parents, Rev. LaVerne W. Anderson, Sr. and Dr. Norma Jean Anderson; and her older brother, LaVerne Anderson, Jr.  She is survived by her son, Seth Mark Anderson Calloway, and his wife, Alexis Ponder Calloway (Nashville, TN); her brother, Rev. Carlos W. Anderson (Montague, MA); her sister, Rhonda Jean Gordon (Shutesbury, MA); an extended loving family of nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws, as well as her faithful and loyal family of Hope Community Church members.

A service in celebration of Rev. Crystal’s life will be held at Hope Community Church, 16 Gaylord Street, Amherst, MA on Saturday, April 12, at 1:00 p.m.  A reception will be held at the church following the service.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Rev. Crystal L. Roberson may be made to Hope Community Church. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.