Chessie Dentley Roberts

Chessie Dentley Roberts 96 departed this life on Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023. A celebration of her Marvelous Life will be held on Sunday, April 16th, 2023 at 6:00pm at the Mt. Teman AME Church 160 Madison Avenue Elizabeth, NJ. Visitation 3:00 to 6:00pm at the church.   You may join the service on Zoom Meeting ID 841 4905 5919  Passcode 964703. Arrangements are in the loving care of the Nesbitt Funeral Home 165 Madison Avenue Elizabeth, NJ.

A lifelong resident of Elizabeth and daughter of the late Chester and Mitchelrena Dentley. Chessie was educated in the Elizabeth Public Schools, she graduated from Battin High School, later Central State University, and Columbia University. After college, she began public service and never looked back.  Her first position was with the Urban League of Union County, under the late William M. Ashby who was first African American social worker in the State of New Jersey.

Living through the Civil Rights Era she had the opportunity to collaborate with various agencies around the issues of desegregation.  Chessie went on to pursue a teaching career at a time when African American teachers could only teach special education; through her determination she was eventually hired as the first African American business teacher assigned to her school. She taught in the Elizabeth Public Schools for 33 years.

She was appointed to the New Jersey State Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Commemorative Committe and co-chaired the Elizabeth Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Commemorative Committee. With help from the community a monument was built in his honor; it was the first African American monument placed on Freedom Trail in Scott Park in Elizabeth.  A recipient of numerous awards through the years on February 26, 2020, Elizabeth Public School #30 Ronald Regan Academy was renamed the Chessie Dentley Roberts Academy.  Her last earthly award was the 2023 Public Service Award from the Elizabeth NAACP, the Lesniak Institute and Kean University.

Chessie is predeceased by her parents, her brother and sister in law Mitchel and Mary Dentley.

She will be missed and cherished by her loving and devoted daughter Adrien L. Roberts Byrd, nieces Cheryl Dentley-Osgood, Yolanda Dentley, and Deborah Dentley Robinson, great nephews Randy, Jared, and Billy, great nieces Regina, Imani, Maya, Jailynn, and great, great niece Amara. Elizabeth mourns this extraordinary woman and servant. Although she is physically gone, her legacy, passion, resilience, courage and love will continue to speak for generations to come.

In lieu of flowers you may make donations to the following organizations: Mt. Teman AME Church https://pushpay.com/g/mttemaname?src=hpp, The Lesniak Institute for American Leadership https://www.lesniakinstitute.org/donate/, Kean University President Repollet's Future Scholarship, https://www.keanfoundation.org/giving/donate-now, Central State University https://centralstateuniversityfoundation.com/, Urban League of Union County, http://www.uloucnj.org/home.aspx, NAACP of Elizabeth Zelle enjtreasurernaacp@gmail.com. 

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