William Roberson

On Saturday, April 25, 2020, William (Bill/Pop) Roberson passed away at the age of 93.

Bill was born on March 19, 1927 in Forest City, North Carolina to Earnest and Inez. He pursued an undergraduate degree at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill but departed the university before completing his final three courses to begin a career in pharmaceutical sales at Baxter Laboratories. To his credit, that decision enabled him to meet May Black, who became his wife on June 27, 1953. Bill and May raised four children, William II, Patricia, Scott, and Benjamin, and through a variety of business ventures, the family spent time living in New Orleans, Louisiana and Heidelberg and Brandon, Mississippi.  He became Poppy to his grandchildren and later he shortened it and became Pop to everyone who knew him.

When Bill was 70 years old, UNC Chapel Hill allowed him to complete that long overdue degree, and he proudly displayed his Bachelor’s in Science diploma in his home for all who visited to see. Over the course of his life, Bill developed a love for flowers, largely due to May’s renowned garden designs, and he spent many hours enjoying the outdoor oasis she created and the birds it attracted. He always kept his hands busy tinkering with different projects, and May could never throw away a glass jar without Bill first trying to make something useful out of it.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, May. He is survived by his four children and four grandchildren.