Norman Lamar Roberts

On Saturday, December 7, 2019, Norman Lamar Roberts, Jr. passed peacefully into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was born March 15, 1930, near Hernando, Mississippi, to Norman and Myrtie (Shows) Roberts Sr. At age 16, Norman graduated high school and proceeded to Baylor University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Education Administration degree in 1950. While at Baylor, he participated as a member of the Baylor Chamber of Commerce and Alpha Epsilon Delta. Norman married his Baylor sweetheart, Mary Karolyn Ball, on July 13, 1952, and after completing an administrative internship at Baylor University Hospital in Dallas, Texas, he went on to earn his Master of Public Health degree in Hospital Administration from University of California at Berkley in 1955. He returned to Baylor Hospital and completed his administrative residency in 1956. Norman oversaw all planning and construction of Memorial Hospital in North Little Rock, which opened shortly before his 30th birthday. He served as administrator of the hospital until October 1985. Upon his retirement in 1993, Norman and Kay spent several years serving in short-term assignments with the International Mission Board in India, Indonesia, Germany, and Kazakhstan. Norman was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Kay, and his children, John and Vivian Roberts, Becky and Joe Brown, Tim and Jan Roberts, Rachel and Greg Ligon, five grandchildren, (Samantha Brown Windham, Hannah Beth Roberts Sims, Chloe Roberts Bacon, Tanner Ligon, and Libbie Ligon), and one great-grandson, (Wade Windham). Visitation will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m., Thursday, December 12, 2019 in the Garden Room of Roller Chenal Funeral Home (13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Arkansas). A service to celebrate Norman's life will follow at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 13, 2019, at Immanuel Baptist Church (501 North Shackleford Road, Little Rock, Arkansas). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (https://www.imb.org/lottie-moon-christmas-offering/). Please share your memories of Norman at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.