Denham Spikes Roberson

Denham Spikes Roberson, age 79, of Gulfport died June 18, 2008. He was born in Jackson, MS to Thomas Albert and Annie Mae McNair Roberson. Denham retired from the United States Army after 21 years of service. He served in WW II and in Korea. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valor and received a Purple Heart after being wounded in battle. Denham was ROTC instructor at Auburn University, advisor to the National Guard in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and assigned to the ROTC detachment at the University of Southern Mississippi. After his retirement from the Army, Denham was the District Executive of the Spanish Trail and Field Director for the Pine Burr Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He was the owner of Roberson Dickerson Utilities, Gulf South Utilities, Gulf South Tractor and Equipment Company and Roberson Mobile Homes. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Gulfport. He served on the board of directors for the Cheshire Home and a member of the Cheshire Parents’ Association. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of the Gulfport Rotary Club, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 771, and the MS Nailbenders Association. He volunteered with the Special Olympics, Abbey Rodgers Civitan Camp, and Habitat for Humanity. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers T. A., Earl and James Roberson and his sister Kitty Herrington. Denham is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Helen Cecich Roberson, his children Michael Roberson of Gulfport, his daughter and son-in-law Kathye and Stanley Butler of Gulfport, and his daughter and son-in-law Meg and Brett Henson of Bay St. Louis, his grandchildren Abbey (Butler) and Michael Schuhmann of Brandon and Zach Butler of Gulfport. He is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Services will be held at First United Methodist Church in Gulfport on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. with visitation beginning one hour before the service. Burial will follow at the Biloxi National Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Gulfport, 2301 15th St., Gulfport, MS 39501.