Beloved Bluffton community member passed away this week. Who he was & his impact
Roberts Vaux, a local attorney and community figure in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, died Sunday. He was 80.
Vaux’s daughter, Emily Burden, serves on the Bluffton Town Council. His law firm, Vaux Marscher Berglind, is one of the oldest and most notable law firms in Beaufort County. Last year, Vaux was named Grand Marshal of 54th Town of Bluffton Christmas Parade.
The Town of Bluffton shared the news of Vaux’s passing in a social media post Tuesday.
“Roberts leaves behind a legacy of service, generosity and love that will continue to be felt throughout Bluffton for generations,” officials wrote.
Some may remember Vaux through his decades of civic service.
He was deeply involved with the Beaufort County Emergency Medical services, and was “instrumental” in bringing medical services to Bluffton, according to his obituary. He also spent two decades on the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, including as chairman.
Others will remember Vaux for his annual townwide Christmas parties, which featured a “legendary menu” of “multiple hogs, a whole cow and a mountain of collard greens,” according to the Town of Bluffton.
“Roberts was the master chef of the collards,” the Town of Bluffton said in a social media post.
Vaux was originally born in Smoaks, South Carolina, but was raised in Beaufort and later Hilton Head. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1972, and established his practice on Hilton Head in 1973.
Most recently, Vaux represented the family of 93-year-old Josephine Wright in a fight for Gullah land on Jonesville Road, according to previous Island Packet reporting.
A celebration of life for Vaux is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. at The Church of the Cross on 110 Calhoun Street in Historic Old Town Bluffton.
This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 10:46 AM.
