Reba Nell Gill Roberts went to be with the Lord following a long illness on Thursday, September 19,
2024, at her home in Brookhaven, Mississippi. Her devoted husband, Raymond Roberts, was at her side
at the time of her passing.

Visitation will be at Brookhaven Funeral Home on Natchez Road from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., on Thursday,
Sept. 26th. A Service of Death and Resurrection will be held in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist
Church in Brookhaven, beginning at 10 a.m., on Friday, Sept. 27th. Visitation will be held at the church
beginning at 9 a.m., until the time of service. Burial will immediately follow at Easthaven Cemetery in
Brookhaven.

Born in McCall Creek, Miss., on January 1, 1942, to Edard Lee Gill and Bessie Mae Johnston Gill, she was
a dedicated teacher for more than 31 years. Following a later in life romance, she married her “sweetie,”
Raymond Roberts, on April 24, 1999. They were married for 25 years at the time of her passing.

With an educational career spanning more than three decades, including nine years in public high school
classrooms across the state, and 22 years as an English instructor at Holmes Community College in
Goodman, Miss., and on Holmes’ Ridgeland, Campus, Roberts was proud of her influence on generations
of her students.

She attended East Franklin Elementary and High Schools until the 10th grade, at which time when she
transferred to Brookhaven High School, graduating in 1960. She felt that the early education she
received in Franklin County prepared her well for transition to the larger BHS. At graduation, she was
offered a full scholarship to the American Studies program at Mississippi College, and a full scholarship
to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s EPDA English Institute.

She was also awarded the Mamie Martin PTA Scholarship, which paid for two years of tuition and fees at Copiah-Lincoln Community
College, which was where she elected to attend. After completing Co-Lin, she attended the University of
Southern Mississippi, where she received her Bachelor of Science Professional Degree in 1964.

Following her undergraduate education, she taught at Gloster High School, as well as Moss Point, and
Pascagoula High Schools. Then, she returned to her alma mater, BHS, where she taught for five years. In
1973, she completed her graduate studies and received her Master of Arts in English from the University
of Louisiana at Lafayette.

After receiving her master’s degree, she began her long and storied teaching career at Holmes
Community College, where she would remain for 22 years, as an Instructor of English Composition,
English Literature, and Creative Writing. She was Chairman of the English Department, and Secretary of
the Holmes CC Faculty Association. While at Holmes, she served two terms as president of the
Mississippi Community College Creative Writing Association, and also served on the association’s
Executive Board for 14 years. They honored her with a certificate of appreciation in 1995. Her students
received numerous awards in writing contests, and participated in workshops with professional writers
while she served as their advisor at Holmes. She was recognized by the school upon her retirement for
her faithful and dedicated service to education in Mississippi.

She was also a writer, penning two volumes of poetry, including “Leaves Bound in Blue” and “Only
Gold.”

At her retirement from teaching in 1995, she returned to southwest Mississippi, and began a second
career as a dedicated community servant. She was a member of the Brookhaven Evening Lions Club,
serving as their president from 2003-2004, and then again from 2009-2010. She was presented with the
Melvin Jones Fellowship from the Lions International Foundation for her dedicated humanitarian
services. They also bestowed upon her the “Lion of the Year” award for 2001-2002. The Lions
International also recognized her with the International Presidents Certificate for 2004-2005.

A longtime member of First United Methodist Church, she was recognized for her 15 years as Chairman
of the church’s Library Committee in 2019. She was a tireless volunteer and meticulous curator of the
library’s extensive collection.

She is survived by her husband; her niece, Kathy Gerald (Rick) of Charlotte, North Carolina; Nicholas and
Eva Gerald also of North Carolina; her cousins, David Gill (Diane) of Brookhaven; George Gill of
Georgetown, Texas; Harold Gill (Cathey) of Snellville, Georgia; Ricky Johnston of Summit, Miss.; Audrey
Gray (Clarence) of Natchez; Doris Rae Gill of Brookhaven; Noland B. Jones of Brookhaven; and Clayton
Jones of Ridgeland, Miss.

The family would like to thank her caregivers who provided such compassionate care during her final
illness, including Jaci King of Halocare, LLC, and her dedicated staff. Special thanks to Darlene Crawford,
Darla Crawford, Arie Montgomery, Neal Montgomery, Gayla Wiley Wardlaw, and Loretta Lewis.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, or the Endowment Fund
of First United Methodist Church in Brookhaven (P.O. Box 358, Brookhaven, MS 39602).