News Summary
Betty Magee Roberts, a highly regarded figure in her community and dedicated family member, has passed away at the age of 95. Known for her leadership roles and contributions to education and healthcare, Betty left a lasting impact in Brandon, Mississippi. After a diverse career that began with her education in sociology, she served her community through various means, including as editor of the Pearl Press and president of the Mississippi Medical Auxiliary. Her loving family, including three children and numerous grandchildren, will continue to honor her legacy.
Brandon, MS – Betty Magee Roberts, a beloved figure known for her significant contributions to her family and community, passed away on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at Chateau Pines Assisted Living in Brandon, Mississippi. She was 95 years old.
Born to the late Norman Carlyle Magee and Gilda Brumfield Magee, Betty spent her early years in Mt. Herman, Louisiana. She been an accomplished student from a young age, graduating as Valedictorian from Mt. Herman High School. Betty went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Louisiana State University (LSU), after which she began her career working as a Welfare Visitor in Plaquemine, Louisiana, and teaching seventh grade at her alma mater.
In a career marked by diverse experiences, she later moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where she served as a hostess on the GM & O luxury trains for three years, traversing routes between St. Louis, Chicago, and Mobile. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Curtis Delgadillo Roberts, who was returning home after graduating from medical school at Northwestern University in Chicago. They married in 1953.
After Curtis completed three years of service with the Air Force, they settled in Brandon, Mississippi, where he practiced medicine until his passing in 1989. Together, they raised three children: Susan Leah Roberts of Brandon, MS; John Curtis Roberts (Shannon) of Brevard, NC; and Stephen Magee Roberts (Harriet) of Oxford, MS. Betty also found joy in being a devoted grandmother to five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A dedicated community member, Betty held various leadership roles, which included serving as editor of the Pearl Press newspaper, managing and directing Riverbend Transportation, Inc., and presiding over the Mississippi Medical Auxiliary. Furthermore, she was actively involved in her children’s education by serving as the president of the parents’ organization at St. Andrews’s Episcopal School. Her peers described her as an enthusiastic leader with a strong sense of personal integrity.
In her later years, Betty found peace in her garden and cared for her peafowl at home, where she continued to reside following her husband’s death. She is survived by her children, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a sister Patricia Magee Holland of Denham Springs, LA, and her special friend J.W. Jennings.
Visitation for Betty will be held on Monday, May 19, 2025, from 10 am to 11 am at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Brandon, MS, followed by a celebration of the Holy Eucharist. A family graveside service will take place at Roberts Cemetery near Mt. Herman, LA.
The family expresses gratitude to Ruby McGee and Ruth Fairley for their caring support, as well as the staff at Chateau Pines Assisted Living for their contributions to Betty’s quality of life. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Curtis D. Roberts Medicine Endowment at the University of Mississippi Medical Center or to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
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Additional Resources
- Ott and Lee Funeral Home: Betty Roberts Obituary
- Wikipedia: Sociology
- Legacy.com: Carlos Allen Jr. Obituary
- Google Search: Brandon Mississippi obituaries
- Dignity Memorial: Hazel Godwin Obituary
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Community
- Legacy.com: Brandon Sheffield Obituary
- Google News: Mississippi community leaders
- Ott and Lee Funeral Home: Betty Dantone Obituary
- Google Scholar: Air Force Service
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