Roberta "Bobbie" (Barnhill) Paulson

Roberta K. “Bobbie” Barnhill Paulson, age 79, resident of Oakland, Tennessee, departed this life Tuesday afternoon, March 14, 2023 at her home.

Bobbie was born May 31, 1943 in Jackson, Michigan, the daughter of the late Robert Barnhill and Athelia Catherine Waddell Barnhill. She was a proud graduate of Memphis State University where she received her bachelor’s degree in human resources. Bobbie was a member of Hickory Withe Baptist Church. She was a marathon runner who won the Boston Marathon in her age group in younger years. She fought ovarian cancer for nine years and enjoyed walking her dog.

Ms. Paulson is survived by her daughter, Terri Hawkinson and her husband, David; her brother, Hank Barnhill and his wife, Rita; three grandchildren, Benjamin Hawkinson and his wife, Alex, William Hawkinson and his wife, Cosette and Allison Penna and her husband, Stephen; five great-grandchildren, Mary Avett Hawkinson, Ellis James Hawkinson, Eliana Penna, Madeline Hawkinson and William Hawkinson; her niece, Debbie Arnett; and her nephew, Doug Barnhill.

Funeral Services for Ms. Paulson were held at 3 P.M. Friday, March 17, 2023 at Hickory Withe Baptist Church with Bro. Eddie Little, pastor of the church, officiating. Interment will be in Memphis Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Bartlett at a later date.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers were David Hawkinson, Ben Hawkinson, Will Hawkinson and Stephen Penna.