Simmie Simbo Hazel Roberts

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at Woodland Hills Baptist Church, 3327 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of the church, with the service following at 11:00 a.m.

Miss Roberts was born April 12, 1920, on her maternal grandparents’ farm near Magee, MS, the daughter of Alonzo Harrison Roberts and Ollie Harrington Roberts. At age 10 she joined Corinth Baptist Church near Magee where her grandfather and other relatives were founders in 1910.

She had been a long-time member of Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Jackson and stayed active in its activities until her death.

Simmie graduated from Magee High School; Copiah-Lincoln Junior College, Wesson; and Millsaps College, Jackson with post-graduate credit at the University of Mississippi.

Simmie’s working career began at the Jackson YWCA, `1942-1953; Atlantic Richfield Oil Company and Mobil Oil Company, Jackson 1953-1966 and 20 years with the Mississippi Library Commission where she traveled the state as a library building consultant from 1966-1986 for hundreds of Mississippi public libraries. She liked all the different kinds of work, but her favorite was seeing a library building Renaissance in Mississippi from 1964-1988.

For many years she has been active in Millsaps College’s Arts & Lecture Series and other activities as a devoted alumnus.

Simmie had many hobbies. She was a former member of the Mississippi Poetry Society; family historian (in her 80’s she wrote “Harrington Hill”, fond memoirs of growing up on the family farm in Simpson County, MS). She was a published poet in the book, Toward the Stars. Her works were “Declarations” and “Wonder”. She was known for her beautiful penmanship and eloquent use of words. Anyone who ever received one of her notes would feel it was a treasure. She was intensely interested in bluebird conservation. A long-time member of the North American Bluebird Society, she used their blueprint in making scores of bluebird houses she gave to family and friends. An avid gardener, she propagated roses and day lilies, and she loved to cook, especially jams and preserves. She had been a loving caregiver for several family members, and was especially devoted to her nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters: Minell Roberts Chiti, Sallie Reece Robers Kemp; and brother, Reginald Dale Roberts. Survivors are her sisters: Joyce Roberts Bradshaw, Clinton; Helen Roberts Stubbs, Meridian, and Kathryn Roberts Greer, Madison; nieces, Patricia Carol Kemp Brister (Bill), Kathryn Denice Greer Adams, Juleigh Karen Greer, and Joyce Evelyn Bradshaw Breithaupt (Ray); nephews, William Eric Stubbs, Sr. (Becky), David Duane Bradshaw, and Robert Darryl Greer; great-nieces, Jennifer Carol McKay Naeger (Leo), Lara Leigh McKay Hebert (Garrett), Whitney Mynell Adams Needham (Brad), Summer Lynn Breithaupt; great-nephews, William Eric Stubbs, II (Laine), Austin William Adams (Candice), Jeremy Brennan Adams (Tiffany), Patrick Ian Stubbs, Marcus Kemp McKay (Mauri), Jacob Breithaupt; great-great nieces, Hannah Claire Needham, Shelby Adams, Adalyn Brenna Needham, Katelyn Grace Adams, Lauren McKacy, Piper Delaney Adams; and great-great nephews, Hayden Adams, William Jackson Adams, Ryder Herbert.

Memorials would be appreciated to Woodland Hills Baptist Church, Jackson or Gideons International, P. O. Box 1918, Ridgeland, MS 39158.

A private burial will follow at Jessamine Cemetery in Ridgeland.