Roscoe Oliver Warner, Sr. passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday,
March 13, 2022, surrounded by his wife, Shelia, and son, Cory. He was born in
Atlanta, GA on December 13, 1950. He attended Harper High School where he
was the captain of the tennis team and won a Region 3-AAA Doubles
Championship and helped the team capture a second-place finish in the state of
GA his senior year. Roscoe graduated from Florida A&M University where he was
an All-American standout on the tennis team in 1972. He married Frances Chase
in 1972 and together they had two children, Kymberli and Roscoe Warner. He
served in the U.S. Navy from 1973 to 1976. Roscoe received a Master's in
Sociology from Mercer University in Macon, GA. Roscoe was with the Georgia
Department of Corrections for over 20 years in progressive management
positions throughout the state. In 1990, he married Shelia Hallman Warner, and
together they had a son, Cory Christopher Warner. Roscoe was Director of
Safety & Security at Bluefield Regional Medical Center (BRMC) from 1995 to
2002. Roscoe also had taught classes in Criminal Justice at Bluefield State
College and served as Fire Commissioner for the City of Bluefield, WV.
Roscoe had a deep passion for tennis and held regular free lessons for Bluefield
youth from 2004 to 2018. He wanted to make sure that every child had the
opportunity to experience tennis. Roscoe also garnered community support to
take kids to the Davis Cup in Winston-Salem, NC. Sharing his love for the game,
he believed the sport of tennis developed character, leadership, and
sportsmanship. Roscoe coached the boy's tennis team for Graham High School
from 2004 to 2008, leading them to District & Regional Titles in Virginia, and a
chance to compete for multiple state championships. He also coached the
Bluefield State College Girl's Tennis Team.
Roscoe is survived by his wife of 32 years, Shelia Warner; sons, Cory, of Los
Angeles CA. and Roscoe Oliver Warner, Jr. (Rocky) and his wife, Veronica of
Lawrenceville, GA; daughter Kymberli Warner of Atlanta and six grandchildren,
Noah, Nico, Nyla, and Nora Warner, and Xiamara and Kamden Jennings, one
great-granddaughter Ileya Jennings, a sister Janet Warner Boykin of South
Fulton, GA, nieces Jasmine Shortt Spicer and Charmaine Shortt, of Atlanta, GA,
and a host of cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents,
Roderick Mark Warner and Janet Crawl Warner Shortt, brother Roderick Warner,
and sister Jacquenette Shortt.
Roscoe's Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, March 20th, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.,
at Shelter #2 in Bluefield City Park. Minister Dorenca Hale will officiate the
memorial. In place of flowers, the family asks that you donate in his name to the
charity of your choice. Dudley Memorial Mortuary will be handling Roscoe's
cremation.