William F. Roberts

William Francis Roberts, beloved husband and father passed away November 30, 2016, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born March 26, 1945, to William Cooper Roberts and Dorothy Crawford Roberts of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Marilyn Mock Roberts, and their daughter, Dr. Allison Roberts Cruse, and her husband Blake, of Jackson, Mississippi. Also survived by daughters Rachael Roberts of Jackson, MS and Robyn Roberts Rea, husband Zack of Brooklyn, NY, and their mother Esther Baugh (Jim), also of Jackson. He is also survived by his brother Gaylen Cooper Roberts (Jo Ann) of Canton, GA, sister-in-law Melinda Mock Familia (Bill) of Port Orange, FL, brothers-in-law George Mock (Kathy) of Nashville, TN, Randy Mock (Susan) of Metairie, LA, and Brian Mock (Tia) of Heathrow, FL, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews throughout the South. He was predeceased by his parents and sisters-in-law Melissa Mock Fort and Carla Mitchell Roberts.

William (Bill) played basketball for the Pascagoula High School Panthers, graduating in 1963. In the same year, he enrolled in the University of Mississippi, where he pledged Sigma Nu Fraternity and joined several well-known singing groups and bands. He graduated in 1967 and, following in the footsteps of his uncle Galen Crawford, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army.

Following a short tour in California, Bill was assigned as an Armored Platoon Commander in the jungle area of Vietnam just south of the DMZ. During his year-long service in close combat, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star Medal. He later received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained while in Vietnam.

Following his military service, Bill returned to Jackson and worked his way through the Jackson School of Law and earned his Juris Doctorate degree. In 1973, he began his long career with the Mississippi State Medical Association (MSMA) and the American Medical Association (AMA). He served as legislative liaison with the state agency responsible for administering the Mississippi Medicaid program. He was Legal Counsel and Director of Governmental Affairs for statewide membership association for Mississippi physicians of the MSMA. He served as legislative liaison for the health sciences campus of the University of Mississippi.

He was appointed Legislative Counsel for the AMA in Washington, D.C. where he directed an eight-member field staff responsible for Congressional grassroots programs.

Following some time with the AMA in Chicago, he returned to Jackson in 1989 to assume the position of Assistant Executive Director and Legal Counsel of the MSMA. In 1998, Bill was named Chief Executive Officer of the MSMA, serving in that capacity until his retirement in 2007. There he developed the largest political action committee in Mississippi, which resulted in significant changes in the composition of the appeals courts in 2002. Bill secured legislative funding for the Office of State Medical Examiner, which had been unfunded for seven years following the passage of enabling legislation. He drafted and successfully pushed for passage of legislation authorizing establishment of a physician-owned medical liability insurance company, now the largest in Mississippi. He also developed the strategic plan for the enactment of Mississippi’s landmark tort reforms in 2002 and 2004, and led the effort to secure their passage.

Bill was a kind and gentle soul who adored the women in his life, especially his three daughters. He was such a great father and role model for them. He was a tremendous source of strength for his girls, his wife, family and friends. He was a man who could be relied upon to assist with just about anything, from paint trim to public service, home construction to the perfect tenderloin. He enjoyed traveling with Marilyn throughout the states and Europe. He was a lifetime Ole Miss fan, and they loved spending time in Oxford, their second home. Bill was a magnificent chef who even wrote a cookbook for his daughters so they would know how to prepare their favorite dishes they grew up on. Word got around about the cookbook and, many printings later, all of his family and friends also have copies. He was a Renaissance man, worldly, cultured, and creatively curious, a writer and collector of books, art, decor, and meaningful photos and memories. He was a uniquely talented artist. On his travels throughout Europe, he would take lots of photographs, return home and paint beautiful watercolors. These paintings have become, to his daughters, the most treasured gifts. He knew how to gracefully navigate a dance floor and graciously work a diversely crowded room. And, the laughs - no one was immune to the infectious laughter over his perfectly-timed humor. His joy and warmth still resonate with us all.

A Memorial Service celebrating Bill’s life will be conducted by Rev. Calvin Cosnahan on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 1:00 pm at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson, MS. Immediately following the service, please join the family for a reception at the church.

The family would like to thank Dr. Charles Pound and Dr. Louis Puneky at UMMC and Dr. Jennifer Frost at the VA for their wonderful care and support. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Urology fund or the Hematology/Oncology fund at UMMC Office of Development, 2500 North State Street, Jackson 39216, or to Christ United Methodist Church, 6000 Old Canton Road, Jackson, Mississippi 39211.

Arrangements under the direction of Parkway Funeral Home, Ridgeland, MS.