Roberta Adlade Hinton passed on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at the age of 89. She was the widow of the late Richard Lee Hinton and is survived by her children, Michael G. Hinton (Rhonda), David D. Hinton and Shirley A. Hinton; two grandchildren, Richard Hinton (Stefani) and Eric Hinton; in addition to two great grandchildren, Ava and Alivia.

"Bert," as she was lovingly called, was born on May 15, 1932, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  She was the eldest of four daughters of Hobart and Nelle Langford Mann.  At the age of eight, her family migrated to Hamtramck, Michigan so that their children could get a better education.

Roberta attended elementary school in Hamtramck and demonstrated academic skills far beyond her peers. As a result, she was moved by her teacher to the next grade. A year after their arrival, the family moved to the Conant Gardens area of Detroit where they became active members of Vernon Chapel AME Church.  Roberta continued to flourish academically, attending Atkinson Elementary School and Pershing High School where she graduated at the age of sixteen.  Growing up in Conant Gardens, Roberta and her sisters Alice, Avonelle and Mildred, became known as "The Mann Girls." It was at Pershing that Roberta met the love of her life, Richard Hinton.

Roberta's dream after high school was to become an elementary school teacher.  She attended Highland Park Junior College and Wayne State University. Upon application to the College of Education, she was told that she had too many hours in social work and was therefore refused admittance.  It was at that time she transferred to Michigan Normal College in Ypsilanti, which was the state teacher's college.  It is now known as Eastern Michigan University. While at Michigan Normal, she worked to help pay her tuition but was still able to participate and enjoy some of the campus activities.    She was inducted into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  and was selected to be on the Kappa Alpha Psi Sweetheart Court.

After graduation, Bert achieved her dream of becoming a teacher.  She taught school in Inkster and Detroit for over thirty years.  Twenty-three of those years were spent in room 302 at Thirkell Elementary School in Detroit.

On July 29, 1954, Roberta and Richard were married and spent over fifty-five years of inseparable love and companionship.   Together, they worked hard to raise and educate their children. They enjoyed taking them camping and traveled with them to all but four states.  In addition, they loved and cherished extended family. Their greatest enjoyment came from the natural beauty, peace and tranquility that came from their time spent at their lakeside home.  Both of them enjoyed participating with the Conant Gardeners and hosted annual picnics at "The Lake."

In her free time, Bert enjoyed the comradery of her Bridge and Birthday Clubs, crocheting afghans, and designing floral arrangements with her dear cousin, Robbie Young.  In addition, she occasionally volunteered in the office at Plymouth United Church of Christ.  Together,  she and Richard volunteered with the Meals on Wheels program.

Roberta was the oldest member of her extended "Mann Clan" family and was proud to be the family matriarch.  She was preceded in death by her husband Richard in 2009, sister Avonelle Birks in 1996 and dear cousin Robbie Young in 2018.   As her heart was broken with these losses, we are now left to mourn her. She will be sorely missed by her children; her sisters and brothers-in-law Alice and Edward Simpkins of Ocala, Florida, Mildred and Sterling Overton of Silver Spring, Maryland, Robert Birks of Southfield, Michigan, and Edward Hinton of Detroit, Michigan as well as loving exteneded family and friends.