Vernon Joseph Roberts

Vernon Joseph Roberts

Visitation for Vernon Roberts will be held Thursday, February 18, 2016, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home.  Graveside services will follow at Magnolia Cemetery, with Brother Jack Kern officiating.

Mr. Roberts, 89, passed away February 15 at Dogwood Assisted Living in Corinth, Mississippi.

Vernon was born and raised in Meridian and had many treasured memories of growing up in the Complete.  The stories he told of those times have become legend, and others have remained a secret.  Vernon genuinely loved everyone, from animals, to children, to perfect strangers.  Everywhere he went, he made many friends easily, most recently in Corinth where he’s lived for the last year.

Vernon is survived by his daughter, Lisa Gilmore and husband, Dr. James “Jim” Gilmore of Corinth, Mississippi and son, Vernon Roberts, Jr.; grandchildren, Emily Hart Gilmore and Mary Claire Gilmore; and sister, Dorothy Price; niece, Leigh Althaus  and nephews, Mike Price and David Price.

He was preceded in death by his wife of sixty years, Elaine deGraffenried Roberts; parents, Huie Menton and Mamie Niegel Roberts; siblings, Vivian Williams, Aileen Price, Melvin O. Roberts, and Huie Roberts, Jr.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff of Dogwood Assisted Living and Magnolia Regional Hospital for the kind and compassionate care they provided to our father.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmie Walker, Roy Bailey, Billy DePoyster, and Bill Galbreath.

The family requests memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.