Portia – Erma Lee Roberts Rider, 82, passed away Sunday, November 29, 2015 at her home. She was born on March 5, 1933 in Okean, Arkansas to Thomas Wesley and Jewel Stone Roberts. On August 9, 1952, she married Jesse Carl Rider. She was a loving and caring mother, maw-maw, and pastor's wife. She was a member of Crossroad Baptist Church in Portia and a member of the Lawrence County China Painting Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, J.D. Roberts, infant Harold Roberts; and sister, Thelma Mashburn.

Survivors include: Carl, her husband of sixty three years; son, Mike (Joyce) Rider of Hoxie; daughter, Carla (Wesley) Garvin of Portia; brothers, Jesse Roberts of Walnut Ridge, Butch Roberts of Jonesboro; sisters, Norma Tillman and Dorothy Russell, both of Walnut Ridge, Linda Milgrim of Black Rock, Judy Bridges of Pocahontas; grandchildren, Allysa, Jessie, Magan, Garrett; three great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visitation will be Tuesday, December 1, 2015 from 6-8 p.m. at Cox Funeral Home Chapel in Walnut Ridge. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Cox Funeral Home Chapel in Walnut Ridge with Wesley Garvin and James Mashburn officiating. Burial will follow at Lawrence Memorial Park under the direction of Cox Funeral Home of Walnut Ridge.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Tim Hudson, Gary Mashburn, John Mashburn, Tommy Milgrim, Marlin Roberts, and Vaughn Russell.