Deborah Roberts: Perry’s sweetheart of national news journalism

“Big things come from small towns.” We’ve probably all heard that quotation or a similar one at one point or another in our lives. Some may believe it, while others may have their doubts. Deborah Roberts, however, is one of our hometown examples that the quote is far from just a line.

Roberts was born and raised in Perry, Georgia and graduated from Perry High School before going on obtain her Bachelor of Journalism—in 1982—from the University of Georgia (UGA) as a graduate of the school’s Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

“I enjoyed every minute,” Roberts said of her time at Perry High. “I sang in the chorus there and was a cheerleader. I was also chosen for the homecoming court and participated in other clubs,” she shared.

To be a successful television journalist, talking can’t be a point of trepidation, and signs of Roberts’ future—both in front of a microphone and in front of a camera— began showing up fairly early her life.

“I talked too much and once got kicked out of the library,” she reminisced. Then, with a laugh, she added, “Apologies to Ms. Capehart; I just had so much to say.”

Roberts made enduring friendships as a high school student, but her family roots were also strong and supportive. Knowing that her family had her back may have provided the strongest wind beneath her wings. Her dad, Benjamin Roberts was a business owner, and her mother, Ruth Roberts was a housewife and homemaker. Together, they raised their children to believe in themselves.

“My memories of my childhood in Perry are warm and filled with wonder. I grew up in a large and loving family. There was lots of love and encouragement at home.”

Being born and raised in the 60s, Roberts admitted that challenges were certainly a part of her life as a little black girl in the South, but despite that, she persevered.

“I remember the pain of segregation,” she recalled, “but I also remember the hope and progress of integration. I was a happy and optimistic kid. I embraced my school years as a chance to grab hold of the promising and evolving world. I made friends easily and laughed a lot.”

Roberts’ interest in the pursuit of journalism was an unveiling that revealed itself over time. “Perhaps my talkative manner was my early introduction,” she stated. Roberts mentioned having a video class that made her become smitten with television. Then, she said she began watching “Walter Cronkite and a growing diverse group of correspondents on the evening news. I was intrigued by this profession that allowed you to follow dramatic events and tell stories about the world.”

In 1982, the same year that she graduated from UGA, Roberts began her career in Columbus, Georgia at WTVM. It became her launch pad and the soil that would lead to her growth into a respected national news correspondent.

“Like any local reporter, I had dreams of moving on. I had a lot to learn,” Roberts confessed. “My voice was high pitched, and I sometimes looked like a deer in headlights. But I had drive and determination, and my news directors saw this.”

Roberts remained focused, and like a sponge, she soaked up all of the instructions and directions that she could. She grew, learned and strove to perfect the craft. And then, in 1989, she got her big break.

“I got a call from NBC while working in Orlando, Florida. I had always dreamed of working at the network. It was a dream come true, but I also knew that I had worked hard for the opportunity and would have to work even harder to survive at the network. This was a whole new level of reporting,” Roberts acknowledged.

It’s been an amazing journey for this Perry-grown sweetheart, both professionally and personally. One of her favorite things about being a national news journalist is the fact that it has afforded her the opportunity to travel all over the country and to many far flung places in the world.

“I absolutely love meeting and connecting with people in circumstances I likely wouldn’t normally do.” Citing a few particularly unforgettable ones, Roberts said, “A young girl in Namibia, Africa who is bravely caring for her siblings after her parents died from AIDS. A convicted killer on death row in Texas. Celine Dion in Las Vegas after the death of her husband. It’s an amazing life of discovery.”

It was her job as a national correspondent that also eventually put her in the place to cross paths with the man who would become the love of her life. The name Al Roker is no strange one to anyone who has watched NBC’s “Today” show. His is probably one of the most recognizable names in television journalism and weather forecasting. Roberts fondly recalled the day they met, but what, on the surface, appeared to be a chance meeting, turned into something more—much, much more.

“Al and I met on the set of the “Today” show; we were each filling in on the show. He was a funny and very nice guy. That was it,” she said. But then… “Later, we struck up a friendship, and very slowly, he courted me and eventually made a lasting impression.” The couple has now been married for 25 blessed years.

Nearing the end of 2020, a year that had already been plagued with the woes of a global pandemic, Roker learned that he had prostate cancer. It was a revelation that shook Roberts to her core.

“Al’s cancer diagnosis was one of the scariest moments of our marriage,” she declared. “While I know that millions of men survive prostate cancer each year, I was still scared,” Roberts admitted. “The word ‘cancer’ is a jolt to the system. I cried.”

After her initial tearful response to the shocking news, Roberts indicated that she pulled herself together and embarked on a mission to learn as much as she could about the disease so that she could help her husband fight back and so that they could get through it together.

“We had to draw on our faith and our love and our humor,” she said. “It was a tough time for our family. The kids were frightened and worried that they could lose their father. We assured them and ourselves at the same time. We were also fortunate and blessed to get one of the country’s top surgeons to help with Al’s treatment,” Roberts divulged.

According to other news sources, Roker underwent a successful operation for the prostate cancer on November 9, 2020, and by November 17, he was at home recovering.

“My husband is a strong man and one of the most optimistic people I know,” Roberts noted.

The couple’s love for one another and their tenacity as professionals and a power couple recently captured the attention of one America’s top weekly magazines that specializes in celebrity news and human interest stories. Subsequently, they graced the cover of the February issue of “People” magazine, and in it, Roker and Roberts shared more of their life and their love story in a feature titled, “We Make Each Other Better.” Roberts called the opportunity a “nice surprise” and hinted that they were honored to be asked to be the cover story of the periodical’s first “love issue.”

Her roots in Perry, Georgia, including the support of her family and her educational beginnings, have played vital roles in Roberts’ development into a woman that is arguably one of the most respected in national news correspondence today. In 1992, her alma mater awarded her with the University of Georgia Distinguished Alumnus Award for the rapid success that she achieved as a journalist. The challenges have all be well worth it.

“Like many women, I have been in a number of situations where I was underestimated,” Roberts shared. “Early on in this business, I was subjected, like many women, to chauvinism and subtle bias. But I kept my eye on the prize. I believed in myself. I knew I wanted to succeed and to make it to the top ranks of network television.”

Roberts further said, “I developed a thick skin and learned not to take things personally. It wasn’t easy,” she readily admitted, “but I worked hard and persevered even when the going was tough. My mentor, Barbara Walters, once said, ‘Sometimes you have to outlast your detractors.’ So, I stayed in the game even during difficult moments. And sometimes, I outlasted that difficult boss or colleague. And most times, things got better.”

The world of news journalism is changing fast, making it difficult to have a particular etched-in-stone roadmap to follow. But for those who are now in the shoes that Roberts once wore as an aspiring journalist, she had these heartfelt words of wisdom. “Be curious and optimistic and do the work. There’s no substitute for hard work. Come in early. Stay late. Read the paper and have ideas. Don’t wait for someone to invite you to be successful.”

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