Vivian C. Roberts Salley
Funeral Service: October 30, 2025 9:30 AM
Funeral Home: Gutterman’s Woodbury Chapel
8000 Jericho Turnpike,
Woodbury, NY 11797
Notes:
Following chapel service, burial at Mt. Moriah Cemetery
Fairview, New Jersey
In Loving Memory of Vivian Constance Roberts-Salley
June 29, 1938 – October 23, 2025
Vivian Constance Roberts-Salley, was the youngest daughter of James Conrad Roberts of St. Johns, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Vivian Constance Jordan-Roberts of Tortola, B.W.I. She and her three sisters were the first generation of their family born on the U.S. mainland. Vivian was born in New York City on Wednesday, June 29, 1938. She adored and was very close to her three sisters — Sylvia Higgs (the oldest), Elaine Clarkson (3rd oldest) and Bernice Roberts (2nd oldest) —all of whom have preceded her in death.
As the story goes, her birth was very difficult, and when they tried to give her water, she wouldn’t drink until they added sugar. She began drinking the “sugar water” hence given the name “Cookie” that followed her throughout her life.
She often reminisced about her nieces and nephews and their playful tricks during movie nights. She would fall asleep, and they would tell her it’s the same movie when in fact, it was the 5th or 6th movie for that evening. They would stay up all night and tell her it was still the first movie. She cherished those moments deeply and loved spending time with her family—whether at the movies, the park, shopping or just engaging in conversation. As you know, she loved to engage in lengthy conversations.
Throughout her lifetime, she was lovingly called: Mrs. Salley, Ms. Roberts, Robbie, Cookie, Vivian, Auntie, Onnie, Vivi, Ema, Mother (as her daughter called her), and by her Hebrew name, Jocava Bat Judah. She responded to all of these names with a smile and welcoming spirit.
When she was 14, her life changed forever when her mother passed away in 1953. She often thanked Hashem for blessing her with a devoted father and a loving maternal grandmother, Estella Benners lovingly called “TaTa” of Tortola, B.W.I., whose favorite saying was, “What can I say?”
After graduating from Seward Park High School in New York City, Cookie married her high school sweetheart, Benjamin Salley. From their union came one beloved daughter, Deitra Karen Salley, born on Saturday, July 30, 1960.
A lifelong learner like her parents, she earned her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in Education. Throughout her career, she served in many roles in the New York City school system to include a paraprofessional, faculty tutor, autistic student assistant, and Dietitian Supervisor for the NYC Public School Cafeterias. She loved her positions, and her students and colleagues loved her just as much.
After Benjamin’s retirement from the NYPD in 1994, his health began to decline due to dementia. Cookie retired in August 1995 to care for him full-time. She remained his devoted caregiver until his passing in June 2001.
After his passing, she poured her heart into poetry, singing, and community service. She performed with the Roy Wilkins Coral Group (Dolphins) and the AARP Choral Group, volunteered as Treasurer for the Friends of Rochdale Village Library, served as a Voter Registration Administrator, and was an active member of Congregation Mount Horeb in the Bronx, New York and the Choir at Beth Elohim.
An avid traveler, she visited across the world to include – Egypt, Israel, Greece, Germany, Dubai, Oman, Switzerland, Portugal, England, France, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji, Cuba, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Haiti, Italy, Iceland, Canada, Mexico, Korea, Panama, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica and countless destinations across the United States. Even in her final days, she still wanted to visit Ghana and take a Mediterranean cruise.
In May of 2018, at the age of 80, she relocated from New York City to Springfield, Virginia, to be closer to her daughter. At Greenspring Retirement Community, she quickly became active in voter registration efforts, the chorus, and the puzzle club.
On Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 1:52 a.m., our beloved Cookie peacefully received her heavenly wings and went to be with Hashem.
She leaves to cherish her memory; her daughter, Deitra Salley Williams-Moore, and son-in-love, David Eric Moore; Grandchildren Justin and LaQuada Williams; Hope and Emmanuel Jackson and Great-grandchildren Zachery, Jacob, Joseph, Jada, Matthew and Ava Vivian as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
Here is a poem she wrote for her husband’s funeral in June 2001:
“A feeling of contentment overwhelms me; I’ve done my best and sorrow I won’t bear. Days, months, years— Memories are precious and dear. God is real and true to all, continuing to be my tower of courage, that will never fail me nor fall. Leaving me with this final thought— Life goes on…”
Vivian Constance Roberts-Salley