Many Yazooans are mourning the loss of Rev. Dr. Gregory Robertson, who served as pastor of New King Solomon MB Church and was a former alderman for Ward 3.
Robertson died in Texas on Dec. 27 at age 65.
The Yazoo City native was the son of Lawyer Robertson and Christine R. Ellis. He was diagnosed with sickle cell as a child, and he was told that he would probably not live until adulthood. Robertson endured many medical treatments through his youth. His faith helped him get through it all.
“I always felt I wasn’t going to die until God got ready for me,” Robertson said in a previous interview.
Robertson went on to graduate from Yazoo City High School, and the next step in his journey was guided by a visit to a tennis court where he was just planning on skating.
“Someone had left an old tennis racket out there,” Robertson said. “I picked the racket up and just began to play.”
He quickly became a talented tennis player and earned a tennis scholarship to Tougaloo College. There he would earn his Bachelor of Science degree and more importantly, meet his future wife Denise.
He accepted the call into the ministry in 1995.
“I first fought it,” he said. “I tell my congregation all the time, ‘your pastor wasn’t always a pastor.’ I enjoy seeing people’s lives change as I share my life and living testimony to God.
In addition to his ministry, Robertson was active in Yazoo City. He previously served as Ward 3 alderman, and served on the boards of the Yazoo City Housing Authority and the Parks & Recreation board.
“You can’t lead people unless you love people, and I love Yazoo City,” he said.
Robertson was always proud of his family, including his daughters Demetricia Caper, Candace Brookins and Davida Robertson, and his grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday at Parkview Church of God.
