Tuscaloosa County community honors 15-year-old Will Roberts
RALPH, Ala. (WBRC) – More than 100 people gathered Friday night at Sipsey Valley Middle School to honor Will Roberts, a 15-year-old who died July 23 after a battle with stage four bone cancer.
Friends, family, and strangers attended the vigil despite a storm, filling the school’s gymnasium to remember the Tuscaloosa County teenager.
A diagnosis that changed everything
Will was diagnosed with stage four bone cancer in January 2025. Friends described him as a country kid who loved fishing, hunting, and sharing his faith.
Clayton Goodman, a friend of Will’s and one of the vigil’s organizers, said Will’s spirit remained unchanged throughout his illness.
“He was just fun to hang around. Even with all this that he had going on, he was still just putting a smile on his face,” Goodman said.
Goodman said Will’s maturity stood out even at his age.
“He held on to his faith until he pᴀssed away. He had so much faith, even in the last days he was going through,” Goodman said.
A Facebook post that reached the nation
In April, Will accessed his mother’s Facebook page and posted a request for help finding a cancer drug that might save his life. Pastor Jason Poole of Wesley Chapel Community Church said Will’s motivation extended beyond himself.
“Will wanted a drug that would possibly cure all cancers. That’s Will’s heart,” Poole said.
The post drew a widespread response. Lawmakers reached out, and Dr. Mehmet Oz connected the family with a treatment facility in California.
Poole said he had the opportunity to baptize Will during that time.
“I had the privilege of being able to baptize Will, and that meant a lot to me. I watched Will grow in his faith, even in a tragedy. Sometimes it’s the thing that pulls everything together,” Poole said.
Legacy cemented in Alabama
