Roberta Winifede Hairston

Roberta Winifede Hairston, age 70, died at home in Durham on March 7, 2024. Roberta was born on January 13, 1954, in Manchester, England to the late Tom and Annie Harbyman.

In Manchester, Roberta attended private school and went to college where she graduated with a degree in IT Technology. She later moved to the United States, where her first job was as a Playboy Bunny for Hugh Hefner. Later, Roberta moved to New York where she met Riley Hairston, whom she later married. Roberta and Riley opened their own business in IT technology. After 9/11, they moved to Florida, then North Carolina where she attended Holy Infant Catholic Church until her husband became ill, and Roberta became his caregiver.

Roberta was loving and caring to everyone who knew her. She was faithful in giving to the organizations that she held dear to her heart, including the ASPCA and St. Jude’s. The things Roberta enjoyed most were spending time with her family, her beloved cats, and shopping.

Roberta is survived by her husband, Riley Hairston, at home; Jacqueline Williams and Skye Williams of Chapel Hill, NC; Annie Poole, Jarvis White, and Princess Tusie, all of Durham, NC. She is preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Annie Harbyman, and her brother, Mark Harbyman.

A visitation will be held at Holy Infant Catholic Church in Durham, NC on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., and a funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. with burial immediately following at Woodlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the ASPCA or St. Jude’s Children's Hospital.