Dr. Clarence Wood Roberts

    Dr. Clarence Wood Roberts, 77, died Sunday, May 19, 2013, after a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Roberts, a longtime resident of Meridian, is survived by his wife of 50 years, Hilda Cochran Roberts; sister, Alice Roberts; brother, John Roberts; daughters and sons-in-law: Laura Catherine Roberts and Myron Burris, Anna Sharon Roberts and John Tettleton; son, Joseph Clarence Roberts; grandchildren: Andrew Burris, Matthew Burris, Daniel Burris, Gray Tettleton, Saylor Tettleton, Maeve Tettleton, Kayli Collins and Tyler Roberts.

    Dr. Roberts was born in Nettleton to Clarence Lowe Roberts and Ethelda Grissom Roberts on July 6, 1935. He spent most of his early life in McComb before graduating from Mississippi State University, where he enjoyed Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and playing baseball. While in the Army, he was stationed in Korea and Washington. Dr. Roberts received his Ph.D. from Florida State University and spent his career as a college administrator at Meridian Community College. During his career, he served as President of the Deans Association of Community Colleges of Mississippi, President of Junior Achievement, President of Northwood Country Club, member of the Lions Club, and member of Trinity Presbyterian Church. After his retirement as Vice President of Instruction, Dr. Roberts went back to seminary and became an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. After serving churches in Meridian and Toomsuba, Dr. Roberts retired again. He enjoyed sports, especially golf, fishing, and rooting for Mississippi State.

    His parents and his older sister, Lottie Roberts Hales, preceded him in death.

    Visitation with the family will be today, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home. Services will be held Friday, at 11 a.m., at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Meridian. A short visitation will precede the service from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Burial will be at 2 p.m., at the State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Newton.

    In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be donated to the Clarence Roberts Scholarship at Meridian Community College.

    Family and friends may sign the online guest book at robertbarhamffh.com.