Miami Herald - February 26, 2005
Idy Fernandez, imfernandez@herald.com

Roberts was diagnosed with HIV and AIDS in 1996. In 2000, his activism began in earnest when he joined the county partnership as a member of its planning council, said Charlie Le Claire, co-chairman of the group's board.

While on the planning council, Roberts strove to educate people about HIV and AIDS and recruit volunteers for the partnership, Le Claire said.

In 2001, Roberts served on the group's housing committee and in June 2002, he became a member of the partnership's board, Le Claire said. Roberts was elected co-chairman of the group's Community Coalition committee in 2003, where he focused on educating the black community on prevention and care by handing out fliers, speaking at organizations and recruiting volunteers.

''I think he became involved because he thought he could accomplish a lot and help make a difference,'' said Le Claire, who first met Roberts five years ago outside a clinic. ``There are so many people in our community living and dealing with this disease that he thought he could be a voice for those who couldn't speak for themselves.''

In addition to being a constant presence in the community, Le Claire said, Roberts was an innovator with big ideas on how to further the group's fight against HIV and AIDS, he said.

Roberts had one of those big ideas in 2002 when he got the group involved for the first time in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, where members marched and handed out fliers.

In the fall of 2003, Roberts wrote and starred with other partnership members in a public service announcement aimed at recruitment. It aired last year, Le Claire said.

Roberts also launched the group's first quarterly newsletter, which is placed in medical facilities to make people aware of the partnership

''He was soft-spoken but always committed to the cause,'' said the Rev. Tommie Watkins Jr., who served with Roberts on the group's various committees.

In fact, his devotion to the group and committees often came before his health, said Sandra Jones, who served on several committees with Roberts. Like the time one of the committees didn't have enough members for a quorum, so Roberts, who had been at home resting after a stint at the hospital, came in to make sure things could get done.

Roberts was also an active member of the Episcopal AIDS Ministries, an inter-faith group in Miami, where he attended spiritual healing meetings.

'His motto was always, `May the work I do speak for me,' '' Le Claire said. ``Ours was the type of friendship that only comes around once in a lifetime. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to meet him, and I'm going to miss him terribly.''

Born on Aug. 7, 1960, in Miami, Roberts was a graduate of Northwestern Senior High School.

He is survived by sisters Barbara Stubbs and Doretha Clark of Miami and brother Leroy Clark, also of Miami.

Services are at 1 p.m. today at Delores Mills Chapel, 15035 NW 22nd Ave., Opa-locka.

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