Joseph L. Roberts Jr.

Joseph L. Roberts Jr. (February 17, 1935 - February 18, 2015) was an American Baptist pastor. He was the senior pastor of Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church from 1975 to 2005.

Biography
He was born in Chicago (Illinois) on February 17, 1935. He studied at Knoxville College and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1956, then he studied theology at the Union Theological Seminary and obtained a Master of Divinity. He also studied theology at Princeton Theological Seminary and obtained a Master of Theology.

Ministry
He served in the administration of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and also served as pastor of Weequahic Presbyterian Church in Newark, New Jersey. Subsequently, he became pastor at Elmwood United Presbyterian Church in East Orange, New Jersey.

In 1975, he became senior pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. He founded a ministry for teenage mothers, tutoring programs and a food cooperative. During his ministry, the church welcomed more than 2,000 new members, which caused him to plan the construction of a new building including a 1700-seat auditorium, opposite the old one, whose dedication took place in 1999.

He left his position as senior pastor in 2005.

Personal life
He married Esther Wortham and had three children. He died on February 15, 2015.

Awards and honors
He has received 5 Doctorates of Divinity (honorary doctorates) from the following universities: Johnson C. Smith University, Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College, Franklin College (Indiana) and Kalamazoo College.