WINONA – The community is mourning the passing of former Montgomery County District 3 Supervisor Lindsey Roberts, Jr., who passed away last week in a Georgia medical facility at the age of 71. Roberts was the first African American ever elected to the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, and his 28 years on the board are looked at fondly from his peers and colleagues.
Retired Montgomery County Chancery Clerk Talmadge “Tee” Golding was elected to his seat in 1988, the same year as Roberts.
“Lindsey was a good friend of mine,” Golding said. “He tried real hard for his constituents in District 3 and Montgomery County. He will be missed.”
Golding said while on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, Roberts helped to initiate the county’s road paving program as well as the development of the Montgomery County Coliseum.
“Over the years, he made a lot of contacts and friends in the state and the nation,” Golding said.
Montgomery County Economic Development District Director Sue Stidham said Roberts’ wide net of political resources was never more apparent than when leaders from Montgomery County visited Washington, D.C., to speak with members of the Mississippi delegation about potential projects in Montgomery County. Stidham said Roberts helped navigate the group through the U.S. Capital and seemed to know everyone they met along the way.
“Lindsey was a unique person in a positive way,” Stidham said. “He loved Montgomery County, and he worked diligently to help grow it. He was all about the advancement of Montgomery County, and he had a desire to see this county grow in every aspect."
Roberts served on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors from 1988 until his retirement in 2015. He served as president and vice president of the board of supervisors, as well as president and vice president for the Mississippi Association of Supervisors Minority Caucus.
As the first African American elected to the board of supervisors, Roberts was a pioneer for African American supervisors elected since 1988 – the late Annie Jean Campbell, Nelson Forrest, Janet Roby-Harper, Willie Earl Townsend, Jr., and Ronald White.
A walk-through visitation is set for today from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Roberts and Sons Mortuary in Winona. Graveside funeral services with military honors will be held on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 4 p.m. at Forest Hill Cemetery in Winona.
