Obituary from Holman Funeral Home of Ozark – Ozark, Alabama
Mildred Roberta Shaw Segers, a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, lifelong reader, gifted pianist, and faithful friend, passed away on October 14, 2026 at the age of 86. Her life was marked by a love of learning, a deep appreciation for family and friendship, and a steadfast devotion to the people and places she held dear.
Roberta was born on September 11, 1940, in Enterprise, Alabama, to Lucy Floyd Griffin Shaw and William Milledge Shaw. Her early childhood was spent in Clio, Alabama, before her family moved to Abbeville and later to Hartford, a town that would always hold a particularly special place in her heart. In Hartford, Roberta enjoyed the simple pleasures of growing up in a small Southern town in the 1950s — afternoons at the Archie Theatre, dancing, gathering with friends at the local hamburger shop, and the friendships that would remain dear to her throughout her life. She was active in the youth group at Hartford Baptist Church, where she also shared her musical talents as a pianist. An exceptional student, Roberta graduated as valedictorian of her class at Hartford High School.
Roberta attended Troy State University before transferring to the University of Alabama, where she earned her degree in Library Science with honors and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Although she had once dreamed of becoming an archaeologist and possessed a natural aptitude for mathematics, she ultimately found her calling in a profession that suited her lifelong love of books and learning. Her years at the University of Alabama also inspired another enduring passion: Crimson Tide football. Having attended Alabama during the legendary coaching tenure of Paul “Bear” Bryant, with whom she also shared a birthday, Roberta became an unwavering and enthusiastic Alabama fan, a loyalty she proudly maintained throughout her life.
For 30 years, Roberta served as the librarian at Smith Middle School in Ozark, Alabama, where she shared her love of reading and learning with generations of students. Following her retirement, she continued to read voraciously and volunteered for many years at the Ozark Dale County Public Library. Music was another constant in Roberta’s life. She began playing the piano in her early teens and continued for much of her life, generously sharing her talents with others. Her deep faith remained an important part of her life, and she was a member of First United Methodist Church of Ozark, where she served on the church’s scholarship committee.
Roberta embraced an active and engaged life. She enjoyed the fellowship of the Merrymakers ladies’ club, including its annual Mardi Gras Ball at the Ozark Country Club. She also treasured the strong friendships formed in her Pebble Creek Circle neighborhood, whose members gathered faithfully for “Third Thursdays,” “Porch Time,” and many other celebrations over more than four decades.
Among Roberta’s greatest pleasures was traveling with her husband and family. She particularly loved the beauty of the mountains and the opportunity to explore new places, with cherished trips to the American West, Alaska, Canada, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Maine. These adventures provided countless treasured memories for her family.
Perhaps the sweetest story of Roberta’s life was the one she shared with her husband of 64 years, Wilton. Their paths first crossed as children in the same first-grade classroom in Clio, Alabama. When their families moved to different towns, they went their separate ways, only to be reunited years later as college freshmen traveling together to Troy State University in 1959. What began as a childhood acquaintance eventually became a lifelong love story. Roberta once remarked that her life did not really begin until she met her husband. Together, they built a life filled with family, faith, friendship, laughter, and adventure. They were married on October 18, 1962, and their marriage remained at the center of the life she cherished.
Roberta is survived by her beloved husband, Lewie Wilton Segers; her children, Michael Wilton Segers (Jennifer), Timothy John Segers (JD), and Kathryn Ann Segers; and her grandchildren, Eleanor Devereaux Segers, Brody Michael Segers, Olivia Shaw Segers, and Nathan Paul Munn. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lucy Floyd Griffin Shaw and William Milledge Shaw, and her brother, William Griffin Shaw.
Roberta will be remembered for her intelligence, her curiosity, her musical gifts, her enduring friendships, and her deep devotion to her faith and family. Whether she was immersed in a good book, spending time with her family, enjoying the company of lifelong friends, exploring a beautiful mountain landscape, or cheering on her beloved Crimson Tide, she embraced the things she loved with a full heart.
Above all, she leaves a legacy of love, learning, faith, and family — a life beautifully lived and lovingly remembered.
A Celebration of Roberta’s Life will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Ozark, Alabama, on Monday, November 2, 2026. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the memorial service at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Dr. Jason Thrower officiating, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing.
Memorial donations may be made in Roberta’s memory to First United Methodist Church of Ozark, the Ozark Dale County Library, Inc., or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Flowers may also be ordered through The Flower Shoppe Etc.
Condolences may be expressed at www.HolmanFuneralHome.com
