Margaret M Roberts

Margaret Roberts was born Margaret Emma Mills to the late Everett Mills and Isabelle Holman Mills on 12/5/1936 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was the ninth of eleven children. Her family fondly called her Margie. At a young age, Margaret went to live with an older cousin in Detroit, Michigan, where she attended Cass High School. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. Margaret would later earn a Ph.D. in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the Ohio State University.

Margaret used her Ph.D. and was very proud to be the Founder and Director of the Speech and Hearing Department at Children’s Hospital for over 30 years. Margaret served on the board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She always looked forward to their annual conventions.

Margaret was married to her college sweetheart, Vernard Roberts, in 1956 and was married for 60 years when he passed in 2016. From their very first date up until his passing, every Friday, her beloved Vernard bought her flowers, usually her favorite yellow roses. They had two children, Vernard Jr. and Sharon. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren meant everything to her. She was so proud to be a grandmother and great-grandmother, but she did not want to be called Granny or Grandma. In true Margaret fashion, she created her own name that she wanted to be called, which was MaMar, which stood for Mama Margaret. She was honored when her son put her name as part of his daughter Marshanna’s name. The Mar is for Margaret. She never wanted her grandson Kian, who lives in California, to feel left out, so every year she would come out for his birthday. Margaret was a board member of his foundation, the Kian Jordan Rose Foundation, where she generously donated her money and time, assisting with fundraising efforts. She understood the Foundation’s mission to raise funds for Hurler’s Syndrome research. She wanted those afflicted with the disease, like her grandson, to have the medical support they needed. When visiting California, one of the highlights of her visits, which was a must, was to go on the San Francisco Bay Area cruise ship, The Hornblower Yacht. Margaret belonged to several organizations, the Links Inc., where she held the office of President and the Carats Inc., where she held the office of National Parliamentarian and local chapter President. She was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and loved attending their annual Founder’s Day luncheons.She loved to give speeches and was often the keynote speaker or moderator for UNCF fundraisers and many Black History Month events.Margaret was a friend and confidant to many, young and old. She loved “holding court.” She continued this when she resided at Meadow Grove Transitional Care facility in Grove City for the past 5 years, where they took excellent care of her.

She also loved cooking and feeding people. Always cooking as though she was going to feed an army. Margaret wrote for the society page of the Columbus Call and Post newspaper, where she had a section called Margeaux’s Marquee. She was quite the socialite. Margaret was an avid reader and loved murder mysteries. She also loved to watch all the Law & Order franchises and Perry Mason. She loved game shows. Jeopardy and the Wheel of Fortune were her favorites. Margaret left this earthly life on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at Meadow Grove Transitional Care facility, where she went quietly in her sleep.

Margaret is preceded in death by her husband, Vernard Thomas Roberts, Sr., and her son Vernard Thomas Roberts, Jr. She is survived by her daughter Sharon Roberts Rose (Kevin) of Vallejo, California, granddaughter Marshanna Roberts of Newark, Ohio, grandson Kian Rose of Vallejo, California, great-grandchildren, Aniyah Roberts, Kajuan “KJ” Brown, Jr., Isabella Perrin, Ava Perrin, sister Gwendolyn Patillo of Altoona, PA, brothers Howard Mills of Pittsburgh, PA, Robert “Bobby” Mills (Carole) of Vandergrift, PA and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025 from 10:30 am to 11:00 am with a Funeral Service immediately following at Diehl-Whittaker Funeral Service 1370 East Main Street Columbus, Ohio 43205. Burial will process to St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

To leave a message of condolence please visit her Guest Book.