Velta Mae Roberts

Velta Mae Fulmer Roberts passed away peacefully at St. Catherine’s Village on September 13, 2025, at the age of 95, surrounded by her children. Affectionately known to her family as “Baboo” or “Babu” (the spelling remains a matter of debate), she was our Queen Bee—the center of every gathering and the steady rock of our family. She laughed heartily, loved deeply, and gave unconditionally.

Born on November 23, 1929, in Logansport, Louisiana, Velta was the daughter of D.T. and Thelma Fulmer. At that time, Louisiana schools offered only eleven grades, so at just 16 she entered Belhaven College in Jackson. After a year there, she transferred to Louisiana Tech, where she rekindled a friendship with high school classmate, Ted Russell, also from Logansport. The two married in 1948, when Velta was 18. With two toddlers soon in tow, they moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where Ted worked as a geologist in the burgeoning Jackson oil business.

Velta was blessed with a beautiful soprano voice, which she shared in the choir of Christ United Methodist Church during its formative years. Always creative and resourceful, she had a gift for transforming the ordinary into something lovely. She scoured rag barns and junk shops for overlooked treasures, repurposing them into works of beauty for her home – a hobby she carried on even into her later years.

Life changed dramatically in 1968, when Ted died suddenly at the age of 40. With an eight-year-old still at home and two children already in college, Velta—who had never worked outside the home—faced widowhood with courage and determination. Over the next decade, she managed several retail boutiques in Jackson, including The Bridal Path, The Balcony Too, and Sportique.

In 1977, Velta married Marlin Roberts, a fellow Jackson native who had also been widowed. Like Ted, Marlin worked in the oil business, and together they built a new chapter of life. With a true servant’s heart, Velta became a dedicated volunteer at the UMMC Children’s Hospital, where she “adopted” many young patients in need of encouragement, mentoring, and small acts of love.

After Marlin’s retirement, the couple moved to San Antonio, Texas, in 1986, where they enjoyed nearly 25 years of retirement before returning to Mississippi in 2009. At St. Catherine’s Village, they were reunited with old friends, made many new ones, and shared a rich community life. Their marriage lasted 36 years until Marlin’s passing in 2013.

With her radiant personality and flair for sparkly, colorful outfits, Velta was a friend to all. She delighted in the theater productions at St. Catherine’s, once famously portraying a Dolly Parton character with full gusto (and all the expected enhancements). Whenever her children visited for lunch, they knew to allow extra time—Velta could not walk down a hallway without stopping to share a hug or conversation with friends, staff, or neighbors.

She is survived by her three children: daughter Susan Haralson, son Danny Russell (Marsha), and son David Russell (Susan); eleven grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of Tuscany at St. Catherine’s Village for their attentive care over the past two years. Special thanks also go to Nikki Lewis and the team at BNice Personal Touch Sitters, who provided daily and nightly care and compassion.

We are especially and eternally grateful to Joyce Henderson. Joyce, the way you selflessly preserved Mom’s dignity when she could no longer do so herself means more than words can convey. You kept her dressed, shampooed, lip-sticked, and bedazzled—just as she would have wanted. You are truly one of God’s angels, knit to our hearts and forever a part of our family.

A memorial service will be held at the chapel of St. Catherine’s Village on Friday, September 26, at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Children’s of Mississippi.