The Very Rev. James Beauregard "Bo" Roberts

The Very Reverend James Beauregard Roberts (Bo)

Born in Biloxi, MS to Henry and Lucille Roberts, both of whom have preceded him in death.

Bo attended school in Biloxi, graduating from BHS, class of 1959. He attended college at Milsaps for two years, transferring to William Carey where he graduated. He finished college in 3 ½ years and went on to graduate school at the Philadelphia Divinity School (a seminary of the Episcopal Church) where he graduated with a master’s degree in 1966. He was ordained to the Diaconate that June and to the Priesthood the following year.

While at Carey, he married the beautiful Pamela Ann Mitchell, and they had their 1st child, James Mitchell. Their two daughters, Jennifer Ellen and Diane Elizabeth were both born after Seminary while the family lived in Olive Branch, MS. Fr. Bo’s first assignment was Holy Cross Church in Olive Branch, as well as another mission church in Como, MS, and co-founding St Timothy’s Church – Southaven.

In April 1969, the family was called to St. Mark’s – Gulfport, just four months before the destruction of Hurricane Camille. Fr. Bo’s first service was on Palm Sunday, which began a 44-year ministry at St Mark’s and within the community of Gulfport (the rival of BHS football!). Fr. Bo remained at St Mark’s until his retirement, having completely rebuilt the church for a second time following hurricane Katrina, this time in a new location. The church had grown from 90 members to over 700 at the time of his retirement in 2013.

During his years at St. Mark’s, he was President of Anniston Ave PTA as well as the City Council of PTA. He was one of the initiators for the Bond issues to add air conditioning to the city schools. He coached elementary school football at 5 different schools over 19 years, little league baseball for 9 years, and with a fellow coach organized a girls’ softball league because there was nowhere that girls could play at that time. He also established a Summer Camp for boys, housed on Keesler, for which he raised funding and scholarship support.

Fr. Bo served as Mental Health Board member, Help Line, Chairman of W. Harrison Co. Heart Fund, President and member of Biloxi Lions Club (50 years), Vice President and member of Board of Advisors for De L’Epee Deaf Center, a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi (over 50 years and active until his death), and many other offices and positions in his Diocese including camps and conferences.

He held a private pilot’s license (he didn’t tell Pam about flying lessons until she found a receipt for airplane fuel!) and was an avid sailor. He and Pam shared many wonderful sailing trips along the coast with their friends and family and travelled as far as to New Orleans and to Alabama and Florida on occasions.

Survivors include his wife, Pamela Mitchell Roberts, without whom he would have never succeeded (their 64th anniversary would be January 24, 2026); children Beth Moran (Jeff) and Ellen Rivera; grandchildren Eliott Beauregard “Beau” Roberts, Stefanie Hay (Nicky), Stan Roberts (Chelsea), Micah Lochner (Marlana), Devon Lochner (Kimmi), Alexander Rivera, and Kristen Lizana, along with the Roberts mother, Tonya, the Lochner father, Steve, and the Rivera father, Luis; great-grandchildren Nicholas Hay, Ana Catherine Cavalaro Roberts, Sawyer Lochner, Nathan Hay, Haygood Lochner, Lian Lizana, John Michael Augustine Roberts, Slade Lochner, Violet Georgiana Doloris Elizabeth Roberts, and expectation of baby girl Lochner; one brother, Dr. C. H. “Hank” Roberts (Janice), many nieces and nephews, and very dear friends the Reverend Dr. Harold and Mrs. Jan Roberts.

Thank you to all the friends, business associates, and church members who supported him in his life and made it possible for him to serve God, his family, and his community.

The family would also like to thank St. Joseph’s Hospice for the quiet and peace they provided for Fr. Bo’s final days.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Gulfport, from 12:30pm until 2:00pm. The funeral service will follow at 2:00pm, and burial will be in Southern Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials in memory of Father Bo are preferred and may be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 11322 West Taylor Road, Gulfport, MS 39503. If you prefer to send live flowers, please send those to a dear friend or person who would be uplifted by your gift.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Biloxi, is honored to be serving the family.