IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Willis Joe
Robertson
March 24, 1930 – February 10, 2013
Obituary
Mr. Willis Joe Robertson, age 82 of Jackson, MS, passed away Sunday, February 10, 2013, at Sr. Catherine's Villiage.
Mr. Willis was born March 24, 1930, in Vernon, AL to the late Willis Earl and Jessie Turner Robertson. He graduated from Vernon High School in 1948, attended Copiah Lincoln Junior College until 1950, then attended Mississippi State University on a football scholarship where he played halfback and was a member of the "M" Club. Mr. Robertson recieved his B.S. degrees in 1952 and his M.S. in Sociology in 1954. He spent his entire professional career with the YMCA starting in Jackson, MS in 1954. In 1958, he transferred to Birmingham, AL and in 1961 he moved to Houston, TX. He returned to Jackson in 1970 to take on the CEO position for the Jackson Metropolis YMCA, a position he held until he retired in 1986. Mr. Robertson was a member of the Exchange Club of Jackson, MS for over 40 years serving as president, program chairman, and on the board of directors. He was a member of YMCA Heritage Club, served on the Board of Trustees for the Metro YMCA, Blue Ridge YMCA board of directors, Crosswings Flying Club, Whisper Lake Golf Club, and Gerald Panos and Associates board of directors, and was a faithful member of First Baptis Church of Jackson, MS. His motto, "life is an adventure," was lived to the fullest. He was a private pilot, scuba diver, and writter. Mr. Robertson's love of travel carried him all over the U.S. and abroad.
Funeral services will be Wednesday at 2:30 at the First Freewill Baptist Church in Vernon with burial at Lamar Memory Gardens. Visitation will be Wednesday 1:30-2:30 prior to the service.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nell W. Robertson; five children, Dr. Angela Robertson, Vicki Rohr, Laurie Suess, Joe E. Robertson, and Nancy Cliburn; two sons-in-law, Kim Rohr and Perry Cliburn; and seven grandchildren, Katie (Paul) Rohr Fletcher, William Rohr, Jennifer Suess, Jessica Suess, Craig Cliburn, Rachel Cliburn, and Caroline Cliburn.
Memorials may be made to W. Joe Robertson Endowment Fund, 84 Blue Ridge Circle, Black Mountain, NC 28711, or YMCA Fitness Center, 800 E. River Place, Jackson, MS 39202.
Mr. Willis was born March 24, 1930, in Vernon, AL to the late Willis Earl and Jessie Turner Robertson. He graduated from Vernon High School in 1948, attended Copiah Lincoln Junior College until 1950, then attended Mississippi State University on a football scholarship where he played halfback and was a member of the "M" Club. Mr. Robertson recieved his B.S. degrees in 1952 and his M.S. in Sociology in 1954. He spent his entire professional career with the YMCA starting in Jackson, MS in 1954. In 1958, he transferred to Birmingham, AL and in 1961 he moved to Houston, TX. He returned to Jackson in 1970 to take on the CEO position for the Jackson Metropolis YMCA, a position he held until he retired in 1986. Mr. Robertson was a member of the Exchange Club of Jackson, MS for over 40 years serving as president, program chairman, and on the board of directors. He was a member of YMCA Heritage Club, served on the Board of Trustees for the Metro YMCA, Blue Ridge YMCA board of directors, Crosswings Flying Club, Whisper Lake Golf Club, and Gerald Panos and Associates board of directors, and was a faithful member of First Baptis Church of Jackson, MS. His motto, "life is an adventure," was lived to the fullest. He was a private pilot, scuba diver, and writter. Mr. Robertson's love of travel carried him all over the U.S. and abroad.
Funeral services will be Wednesday at 2:30 at the First Freewill Baptist Church in Vernon with burial at Lamar Memory Gardens. Visitation will be Wednesday 1:30-2:30 prior to the service.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nell W. Robertson; five children, Dr. Angela Robertson, Vicki Rohr, Laurie Suess, Joe E. Robertson, and Nancy Cliburn; two sons-in-law, Kim Rohr and Perry Cliburn; and seven grandchildren, Katie (Paul) Rohr Fletcher, William Rohr, Jennifer Suess, Jessica Suess, Craig Cliburn, Rachel Cliburn, and Caroline Cliburn.
Memorials may be made to W. Joe Robertson Endowment Fund, 84 Blue Ridge Circle, Black Mountain, NC 28711, or YMCA Fitness Center, 800 E. River Place, Jackson, MS 39202.
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