Melvin L. Roberts

YORK - Melvin L. Roberts, 79, of 214 Roberts Ave., died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, at his home in York.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, at First Presbyterian Church in York, with the Revs. Ed Jillson and Barry Yates officiating.

Born July 24, 1930, in Martinsville, Va., his family moved to York County in the early 1930s. Melvin served in the U.S. Armed Forces from 1947-1948 and 1951-1952 and graduated law school in 1954. He was the only person to have graduated from USC-Columbia with a BS degree and a JD law degree in a four-year term and was a member of The Wig and Robe and the associate editor of Law Quarterly. After completing his education in Columbia, S.C., he and his wife, Bobbie, moved to York County in 1955, where he lived for the remainder of his life. He was taken from us on Feb. 4, 2010. He was the longest serving member of the S.C. State Bar, served on the York County City Council for eight years in the 1960s and was a two-term mayor of York in 1972. He had an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in 1976. He was active in the City of York Annual Veteran’s Day Parade and in many city events and generously donated to many organizations in York County.

Melvin’s accomplishments are too many to mention. He was admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court, the S.C. State Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit, the U.S. District Court of S.C. and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Some of the Appellate Court rulings from his cases helped shape S.C. law.

Melvin was a lawyer for the people of York County and was known for his compassion for the less fortunate. He helped many people regardless of their ability to pay. Melvin was well known and respected in York County and throughout the state of S.C. His driving force behind becoming a lawyer was to help people. He touched the lives of many people and his passing leaves a mark on anyone who knew him. Melvin had a brilliant legal mind and could have practiced law anywhere and had many offers, but he ultimately stayed true to his roots and belief that he could make a difference in the lives of people in the town he loved. Melvin began practice with W. Gist Finley and within four years opened his private practice in York.

Melvin is survived by two sisters, Faye Parsons and Pauline Burris, both of McConnells, S.C.; two sons, David L. Roberts and Ronald B. Roberts, both of York S.C.; granddaughter, Emily H. Roberts of San Diego, Calif.; the mother of their two sons, Bobbie B. Roberts of Rock Hill, S.C.; his long-time companion, Julia Phillips; and several nieces.

Visitation will be held after the service on Monday, February 8, 2010, at First Presbyterian Church Parlor.

Memorials may be made to the American Legion, Meech Stewart Post 66, 1255 Filbert Hwy., York, SC 29745, or to a charity of one’s choice.

Bratton Funeral Home in York is serving the Roberts family.