Roberta Bobbie Jamison

August 25, 1943 – November 8, 2026

Roberta “Bobbie” Imogene Jamison, 83, of Davidson County, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

Born on August 25, 1943, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bobbie was the daughter of Robert Gordon Jamison and Gertrude Lucille Travis Jamison. The fourth of five children, she grew up alongside her siblings, James “Jim”, Maxine, Margaret “Peggy”, and Elizabeth “Bootsie or Liz”. She was remembered by her mother as a spirited, independent child with a natural curiosity about the world around her.

Growing up in Dayton, Pennsylvania, Bobbie was outgoing and eager to explore. As a schoolgirl, she would travel on foot to visit neighbors, becoming acquainted with nearly everyone in town. She possessed an early interest in people and their stories, a quality that would later serve her well in her life's greatest passion. By high school, she had discovered her dream of becoming a photographer; a dream she would carry with her throughout her life.

A Life of Service and Determination

In late 1961, Bobbie enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving for seven years as a personnel specialist. Her military career took her across the country, with assignments in Texas, Mississippi, Michigan, Massachusetts, Florida, and California. Her distinguished service earned her the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Following her military service, Bobbie worked for Ma Bell as a telephone operator in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and later as an insurance clerk at Tampa General Hospital in Florida.

In 1977, she joined the United States Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs in Dallas, Texas. Through dedication and perseverance, she advanced through the ranks to become a senior claims examiner, eventually retiring from federal service.

Although Bobbie took pride in her professional accomplishments, her interests extended far beyond her career. She was a woman of many talents, with a love of creativity, animals, and the extraordinary moments found in everyday life.

A Creative and Adventurous Spirit

An accomplished equestrian and dog-show handler, Bobbie pursued interests that reflected her enthusiasm, determination, and appreciation for animals. Her connection to horses would also find its way into her work as a storyteller and photojournalist.

Bobbie was equally passionate about artistic creation. From 1982 to 2023, she expressed her creativity through ceramic painting, producing hundreds of hand-painted pieces for family, friends, and others to enjoy.

Her creations ranged from delicate ornaments and miniature village houses to elaborate serving pieces that adorned her china hutch and dining room table. Each was thoughtfully painted, reflecting her patience, imagination, and commitment to making something beautiful.

Many of these pieces became part of family holidays and celebrations, bringing her artistry into the home and creating treasured memories for those who gathered around her table.

Bobbie also enjoyed baking, another way she expressed and shared her love with family and friends. Her homemade treats brought warmth to gatherings and became part of the memories cherished by those closest to her.

To Bobbie, every occasion in life was an opportunity to make something special. She found joy in the details, in the beauty of handmade things, and in sharing those creations with the people around her.

A Dream Realized Through Photography

Of all her creative pursuits, photography held a particularly special place in Bobbie's heart.

What began as a childhood ambition eventually became a remarkable second career, allowing her to combine her curiosity about people, her artistic eye, and her love of storytelling.

During the later years of her federal career, Bobbie began fulfilling her lifelong dream by working as a freelance photographer for the Lancaster Herald in Texas. Her photographs frequently appeared on the newspaper's front page, and her distinctive photographic perspective earned recognition and awards at the Texas State Fair.

In 1998, Bobbie moved from Lancaster, Texas, to Lexington, North Carolina, where she continued pursuing her passion for photography and photojournalism with The Dispatch.

Her work frequently appeared on the newspaper's front page, capturing the people, events, and stories of the surrounding community.

Bobbie possessed a remarkable ability to connect with people and put them at ease. This rapport allowed her to capture photographs that reflected not only a person's appearance, but also something of their personality and story.

She approached her work with extraordinary patience and dedication. Whether standing for hours in anticipation of the perfect sports photograph or keeping her scanner running at all hours of the day and night, she was always eager to capture the next meaningful moment.

Her dedication to photography and storytelling earned praise and recognition, including a Freddie's Award from the Southeast Writing Center Association for her account of the rescue of a horse.

For Bobbie, photography was more than a profession. It was the fulfillment of a dream she had cherished since childhood and a way of preserving the moments, people, and stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

Through her photographs, she left behind a visual record of the communities she knew and the lives she encountered.

A Legacy of Love, Creativity, and Family

Beyond her many accomplishments, Bobbie will be remembered for her spirited independence, generosity, creativity, and the joy she found in making life's occasions memorable.

Her love of photography, art, cuisines, cultures, animals, expression, and celebration reflected a life filled with varied interests and an enduring curiosity about the world.

She shared these passions with her family, leaving behind not only photographs, handmade treasures, and cherished possessions, but also memories, traditions, and an appreciation for creativity and beauty.

The gifts she passed on cannot be measured solely by the things she made or the work she accomplished, but also by the ways she influenced and inspired those who knew and loved her.

Her legacy lives on through the stories she told, the moments she captured, the creations she shared, and the generations of family who will carry her memory forward.

Family and Loved Ones

In addition to her parents, Bobbie was preceded in death by her brother, James Jamison, and her sister, Margaret Cuddie, with whom she is now reunited in heaven. She leaves behind her beloved sisters, Maxine Zackey and Elizabeth Kent who will sorely miss her.

Left to carry on her legacy and the many gifts she shared throughout her life are her daughter, Stephanie Anne Jamison; the families of her six grandchildren, Robert, John and his wife Kayla, Margaret, Victoria, George, and Easton.

Bobbie cherished her family, and the memories, traditions, and creative spirit she shared with them will remain a lasting part of her legacy. Through the generations that follow, her influence will continue to be felt in both the extraordinary and ordinary moments of life.

With Heartfelt Gratitude

The family extends its deepest gratitude to Bobbie's devoted caregivers, especially Margaret, Louree, April, and Taiji, whose dedication and around-the-clock care provided comfort, companionship, and support during her final months.

Heartfelt thanks are also extended to her former caregivers, Karen, Alexa, and Kayla, and the many hospice professionals, hospital staff, and healthcare providers who contributed to her care throughout the years.

The family is equally grateful to the relatives, friends, and neighbors whose kindness, friendship, and support enriched Bobbie's life and brought comfort to her and her loved ones.

Each, in their own way, contributed to the community of care, friendship, and love that surrounded her.

Visitation and Burial

The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 15, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Davidson Funeral Home, Lexington.

Burial will take place on a later date at Verona Cemetery in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the United Service Organizations (USO).