Mary Warren Roberts

Obituary For Mary Warren Roberts

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Mary Warren Roberts.

Dr. Mary Warren Roberts was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on July 18, 1937 to the late Edward H. and Bertha Warren. She was the sixth of eleven children; she is survived by three of her siblings – brothers Booker (Eunice) and Michael Warren and her sister, June W. Wilson. She was born into a family that stressed faith, discipline, education, and a love of music.

Dr. Roberts received her first piano lessons from her mother at the age of six. From this humble beginning, she would go on to distinguish herself as a virtuoso pianist. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in (Piano) Performance from the University of Kansas, a Master of Music in (Piano) Performance from Indiana University and the Doctor of Music in Piano Performance from Florida State University.

While at Florida State University she received superlative reviews for her performance of the Piano Concerto in C Minor by Saint-Saens with the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra. Her career included many local and national piano performances as featured soloist and collaborative artist. In addition to the traditional classical concert repertoire, she frequently researched and performed works by black composers.

At Florida A & M University, she served as Professor of Music and Coordinator of Keyboard Instruction for over forty years. Dr. Roberts was known as a tough but compassionate instructor who was both mentor and teacher to many successful music educators and professional performers. Several of her piano students were participants in the prestigious DeBose National Piano Competition and the Savannah Symphony Concerto competition. During her tenure at FAMU, she received Teacher of the Year and Teaching Incentive Program awards. Some of Dr. Roberts’ professional honors and societies include being listed in the International Who’s Who in Music and membership in Pi Kappa Lamba Honorary Music Society.

In 1962, Mary Warren married Willie Roberts, a mathematics professor at Florida A&M University. The couple had one son, William Keith Roberts.

Dr. Robert was a long-time devoted member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church where she served as Music Coordinator and pianist for the Children’s Choir. She was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., The Links, Inc., The Artist Series Board of Directors, and the Tallahassee Music Guild.

Dr. Roberts was called to her heavenly home on August 22, 2025. She is preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Willie L. Roberts. She is survived her son William Keith Roberts, many nieces and nephews, extended family and dear friends, who will forever cherish her memory and legacy.

Funeral service will be 11 A.M. Saturday, August 30, 2025 at Bethel M.B. Church. Entombment will follow at the Tallahassee Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Viewing will be from 12:00 (Noon) to 6 P.M. Friday, August 29, 2025 at Strong & Jones Funeral Home.

On behalf of the staff and management of Strong & Jones Funeral Home, Inc., we would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Dr. Mary Warren Roberts.