Thomas Mack Roberts

Mack Roberts was born on August 15, 1936, to George and Mary Roberts near Carthage, Mississippi. In the early 1950s, George’s work relocated the family to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where Mack met the love of his life, Sylvia Jean Holland. Jean was born on April 26, 1938, to Hiram and Sally Holland. Mack and Jean were married on June 2, 1956, sharing 57 years of marriage.

They were blessed with one son, T. M. Roberts Jr., and later adopted Theresa and Ricky. Tragically, Ricky’s life was cut short in an automobile accident.

Music was woven into the fabric of their family from the beginning. Mack and Jean sang at numerous church functions, and when they discovered that their young son could sing harmony, they formed the Roberts Trio. Tony was only six years old when they began singing at youth rallies and sectional events across the state, and the trio was featured on more than one district Sheaves for Christ recording.

Mack was elected Mississippi District Youth President in 1970 and played a key role in the research, discovery, and purchase of the present campground and state headquarters in the early 1970s. Throughout his ministry, he served in many district roles, including youth camps, Sunday School Secretary, Finance Committee member, and Campground Committee member. On the national level, he served on the speaker selection committee for the General Conference of the UPCI. His final elected role was serving on the Mississippi District Board as Presbyter of Section Seven, a position he held from 2007 until his passing on December 29, 2013.

One of Mack’s earliest ministry roles was serving as youth pastor at First Pentecostal Church of Jackson under Pastor Earl Gamblin, alongside Assistant Pastor Murrell Ewing. Over the course of 47 years in ministry, Brother Mack pastored churches throughout Mississippi, including Louisville, McComb, Ridgeland, Tupelo, New Hebron, Walnut Grove, and Philadelphia, where he served for the final 23 years of his life.

If Mack Roberts’ life could be summarized in one phrase, it would be that he truly loved people. From the most influential governor to the least recognized laborer, he had a way of making everyone feel like a king.

Brother Mack deeply loved and respected his father and worked alongside him often. On one occasion, feeling he had fallen short of his father’s expectations, Mack asked, “I have a long way to go, don’t I, Dad?” His father replied, “It all depends on where you are going.”

Sister Jean also served faithfully in ministry, following the strong ministerial legacy of the Holland family. She held numerous roles in both local churches and the Mississippi District and served as Mississippi District Ladies Auxiliary Director from 1971 to 1976.