WILMINGTON — The world has lost a true salesman! Neill Alexander Roberts, born July 26, 1932 passed away peacefully on May 5, 2025 at the age of 92.
Neill was born in Washington, NC and grew up in Fairfield, NC on the family farm. He was a graduate of UNC and a proud Tar Heel. Neill proudly served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1956. He married Shirley Ann Bracey in 1958.
Eventually he became sales manager for a Virginia Beach water softening company. When he got bit by the entrepreneurial bug, he decided to open his own water softening business so he and Shirley traveled down part of the east coast looking for a place to build a business and settled in Wilmington because it had “really bad water and really good people”. He opened Southern WaterConditioning for water softening equipment in a building in Echo Farms when it was still an operating dairy business. People there never forgot the kindness and help of Mr. McCarley in the early years. In the late 90’s they expanded the business to add manufacturing and bottling Ultra Pure Drinking Water for delivery to homes and businesses throughout the region. There probably isn’t a house built before 1970 that he hasn’t knocked on the door of to make sure everyone knew how great his product was (and still is!).
In the early 70’s he ventured into the kitchen cabinet business, opening Creative Kitchen and Bath Designs with the largest cabinet showroom in the area for years. He started Accent Builders in the 80’s building a number of houses in the Wilmington area including Landsdowne, Echo Farms, The Cape, Wildflower and more. He was a decades-long member of the Wilmington Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow as well.
Even with his successes as a businessman, his greatest accomplishment was that of being a provider for his family as well as countless others he helped through the years. It was never about how much money he could make but how much he could help those he cared for and those who were in need. Generous to a fault, he lent money to more than one person knowing he’d never see it again, but repayment wasn’t as important to him as giving.
He was predeceased by his parents Gratz Linwood and Thelma Powell Roberts as well as his daughter, Kathy Lynn Roberts and mother-in-law, Clara Dail.
He is survived by his loving and completely devoted wife (of 67 years) and caretaker, Shirley; 3 sons and 2 daughters-in-law, Larry, Randy (Nicole) and Ricky (Ginger); 6 grandchildren, Aaron, Bethanie (Dane), Collin (whom he was very proud of for taking over the family business), Christian (Brandi), Geordi (Zainab), Jenna (Alex); and 6 great-grandchildren, Hannah, Samuel, Kai, Luka, Reese and Remington; a sister, Lynn Bueche; and a hefty number of great-grand dogs!
The family would like to thank the nurses, caretakers and staff at Cypress Pointe Rehabilitation Center for the excellent care and love they gave him and our family during his stay. They could not have been kinder! The family also wishes to thank Hank Strohofer and staff of Andrews Mortuary for their incredible knowledge, kindness, patience and attention to detail, while helping us navigate a very difficult process.
His last words were repetitive, “I want to go home” and “I’m ready to see Jesus”.
