EDNA BELLE ROBINSON

Edna Belle Thierry began her journey of life on September 14, 1927, on the Farm in Eunice, Louisiana. Tall, slim, light-skinned with thick red braids, she garnered support and aspiration for life from her parents, Lourent Marchel Thierry and Mary Jeannette Dupré Thierry (Nettie).  Edna’s natural beauty reflected her middle name, Belle, and radiated throughout the Farm where she not only excelled as a student and as a big sister to her baby brother, Allen, but also in the fields where she labored alongside family, and where she created adventures with three loving cousins in particular.  The foursome earned the nursery rhyme nicknames of Eeny, Meeny, Miny, and Moe.  Edna was Miny: diligent, perceptive, determined, and ambitious.  A barefooted, precocious little girl ready to take on the troubles of her world on her own. Frustrated when she could not calm the cantankerous, baby Allen.  Knowing  she would have to trek through the fields with Allen on her hip to interrupt mama’s work and have the woman complete what the child was unable to - “Allen was always a troublemaker” she would lovingly quib. 

Her mother would always tell her “Miny, you can do it.”  These words inspired her to work hard to achieve goals in life which she often overachieved. She committed  these words to her heart and soul, and at the age of 14, she became Mardi Gras Queen.  With Allen no longer on her hip, she danced the Zydeco all night long celebrating with family and friends.  Oh, how Miny loved to dance.  Sadly, the joy of the night, and life on the Farm in Eunice, came to a dramatic end when Miny was attacked by five teenage girls, ending with her mother sending her away to live with her grandparents in Texas.  That, too, was short lived as approximately 25 members of the Dupré family migrated to San Diego, California in the early 1940’s.  Through it all, her mama’s steadfast words remained with her as the family moved from harsh times in the south to hard times in the west that turned into a lifetime of love, God, family, and blessings. 

By the time her parents and Allen had met up with the family in San Diego, Miny had begun to realize the many things within her capabilities.  Even as a girl she understood hard work and contributing to the family waiting on the back steps of the homes cleaned by her youngest aunt, Verline.  Verline, or Nanny as she was affectionately known, would open the back doors and Miny would take to her responsibilities of cleaning the kitchens.  Hard work, too, existed in the classroom especially for a girl who did not speak English.  On the Farm everyone spoke Creole and that was enough.  San Diego, however, required more.  It required English, and learning English was definitely something she could do and was something she prioritized along with her education. Before graduating from Kearny High School in 1945, Miny could read in English, write in English, and  speak in English, and there was no stopping the popular vice president of the Pepper Shakers Club who her peers affectionately nicknamed “Fatso.”  The Pepper Shakers allowed for Miny to expand her love for dance and performing, and this was the evolving and maturing young woman who her parents reunited with in San Diego.   This reunion, also, saw the evolution of the family with the birth of Edna’s baby sister, Becky, whom she would enthusiastically encourage into her arms calling Becky to, “Come to sister, baby.” From then on, she would always be Becky’s Sister-Baby.

But Edna loved to dance and as a young woman, she took it on professionally dancing and entertaining soldiers for the USO.   She and her friends became a very popular dance troupe and were asked to travel with professional entertainers the likes of Redd Foxx.  However, this one particular evening a group of soldiers caught a performance, and one specific soldier in particular caught her eye.  She caught his eye, too.  They did not speak that night, but, later, she found out his name was Charles and soon discovered him singing in the choir and working at Calvary Baptist Church and awaiting military duty.  Active military duty did not give her much time to get to know Charles, and she was unsure if her choir boy was interested in a popular dancer who had many admires.  One of those admirers happened to be a  musician named John who proposed to Edna while Charles was away on duty.  Charles’s heart, however, grew fonder through their absence from one another leading to his proposal when he returned to San Diego.  He invited Edna for a walk on the beach and expressed how much she had been on his mind and wondered if she would marry him?  Without hesitation, and with her hands behind her back, she slipped off John’s ring and slipped on Charles’s ring.  On November 22, 1947, they married in a small family house wedding.  Their union lasted for 72 years until Charles T. Robinson’s death on August 7, 2020.

As Edna settled into married life and the role of Mrs. Edna Robinson (which she pronounced RoBEENson proudly placing a crown on the middle vowel), both she and Charles knew she was no demur housewife.  Edna was a mover and shaker (a Pepper Shaker), a contributor who could lead, take chances, and got things done. Yet-and- still, with all of her moves outside of the home, the home itself never suffered from neglect.  Edna kept it immaculate at all times with a place for everything and everything in its place.  Side by side, she and Charles prepared home cooked meals with enough for expected and unexpected guest.  With high aspirations, they built their life on a foundation of unwavering love and mutual respect uplifting each other through their careers while achieving economic successes.

In 1951, while attending a revival at Beacon Light Seventh Day Adventist Church (which later became 31st Street Seventh Day Adventist Church), Edna made her decision to accept the Adventist message and was baptized by Elder Dennis T. Black at the age of 25. As a natural leader, Edna also guided her husband, parents, and siblings to the Adventist Church which she dutifully and joyfully served.  Her big heart and giving nature ingratiated her into her new found church family.  Although a leader, she enjoyed and had no qualms about following and serving to build God’s Kingdom and to help people within and outside of her church community. The good Sister Edna Robinson took on so many roles at the church serving as an usher, a Pathfinders leader, church clerk, secretary, children and youth department leader, greeter, sabbath schoolteacher,  the reader of church announcements, sabbath school superintendent, deaconess, prayer warrior, women and marriage ministry, Missionary Volunteer leader, kitchen helper, King’s Daughters president, and Christian Education leader (just to name a few).  She also served on the board at San Diego Academy never forgetting her educational priority. 

The Lord blessed the Robinson home with two beautiful daughters: Lori D. in 1961 and Leah D. in 1963.  The family was complete, and the house filled with laughter, love, and a strict commitment to the tenets of the Bible.  The Sabbath day was always remembered and sanctified.  At their mother’s insistence, Lori and Leah learned to play instruments and to use their voices to make a joyful noise unto the Lord.  The girls would sing along with the gospel music that filled their home embracing the presence of the sweet Holy Spirit.  Vespers were kept.  Ten Commandments were upheld and followed. Alcohol, tobacco, and unclean meats were stricken from the diet and kept out of the home.  Edna’s house was a home of God where his dutiful servants resided.  It was a home that exuded community love and the most memorable family gatherings over five generations.  Edna and Charles would show out during holiday meals. They filled the house with the aromas of that “good food” cooking on the stovetop and baking in the oven.  Ingredients taken from their garden that Edna used in her cooking and Charles used in his baking for she was the cook and he was the baker.  

Charles understood the importance of owning property and guided the family in real estate investments. They purchased several properties including a farm all their own in a corner of South East San Diego, with a view of the Coronado Islands and the Pacific Ocean.  They continued to work side-by-side with Edna managing the properties and Charles maintaining their upkeep.  But, Edna was not finished, and God was not finished with Edna.  There were still aspects of her life to be filled. Edna returned to education and found time among her full-time job, her full-time  homemaking, and her full-time community service and activism to obtain her Associates Degree in 1973 and her Bachelor’s degree in business administration from National University in 1976.  This gave her an official diploma to support her natural business acumen.  Ten years after purchasing their farm, Edna designed the house and kept the contractors honest, while Charles prepared the fields for their big move into their dream home, The Robinson Garden and Insectory, at the top of Division Street in 1978.  Charles retired from a storied career with the San Diego Fire Department, but his real passion as a farmer was just beginning.  Edna, too, found her way to retirement after working for the San Diego Unified School District for over 30 years.  Mrs. Robinson’s recognizable red Afro, known throughout the neighborhood, rolling down Skyline Drive turned gray. A 30 year commitment on Skyline Drive at O’Ferrall Junior High School and Morse High School came to a close and that, too, is when her real work began.  She devoted more time to church, family, and community engagement.  She became known for shouldering her camcorder on Saturdays at 31st Street to record the sermons then duplicate and personally deliver the tapes  to the brothers and sisters who could not make it to church.

With a, “Yoo-hoo!” Edna announced her presence as she made her rounds visiting with family and friends or handling business.  She cared for her aging mother after the death of her father, and the two of them had a very special bond often conversing, with Allen as well, in the Creole language of “Down Home.”  They spoke on the phone all day, everyday, and in between calls, Edna would stop by the house to check-in and check-up.  And, years after his retirement, she found herself, once again, caring for Allen until his recent passing in May. She cared for her sister, Becky, and Becky’s three children who called their aunt, Nanny, the moniker she assumed in honor of her own Nanny, and aunt, Verline.  “A Nanny cares for the children,” she would say, and the education of children was her passion.  A passion that she extended to her daughters while passing along her sage advice: “I don’t care where you finish college or what degree you receive, you can get it in dog catching, just finish college.”  Edna and Charles had the opportunity to see Leah receive her degrees and become an educator.  Along the way, Leah blessed them with a grandson, Ahmad, who became their inseparable travel companion bringing life, laughter, love and more love to their lives.  Spending time with Ahmad and being Ahmad’s grandma and grandpa was their greatest joy during their retirements.  And, Ahmad, too, increased the family with the blessing of a baby girl, Ahmaya.

Through 97 years of life there are many peeks and valleys and the blessing do not come without the suffering.  For every peek, there are two valleys and for every valley, two peeks.  Edna stood on many peeks, but she, also, trudged through many valleys: the stillbirth of Charles III; the tragic losses of Lori at the age of 24, Becky at the age of 44, and Ahmad at the age of 29. Through these valleys, Edna continued to lean-on and support family while keeping her unwavering eyes on God for she knew of His promises and rewards: Now you have your real crown of glory.  Well done thy good and faithful servant.

Edna  was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Charles T. Robinson; son, Charles Robinson III; daughter, Lori D. Robinson; grandson, Ahmad Robinson; brother, Allen Thierry; and sister, Rebecca Thierry.

Edna is survived by her loving and devoted daughter, Leah Robinson; great granddaughter, Ahmaya Robinson; niece and nephew-in-law, DeVon Howard (Freddie) of Miami, Florida; two nephews and two nieces-in-law, Orlando Coons Jr (Stacey) of Reno, Nevada, and Lourent Coons (Natasha) of San Diego, California; four great nieces, Mary, Teri, and Starlene Howard of Miami, Florida, and Tyra Coons of Reno, Nevada; five great nephews,  Freddie Howard Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia, Orlando and Myles Coons or Reno, Nevada, and Nalu and Kingston Coons of San Diego, California; cousin, Paul Alexander Sr. of Arizona; Cousins Rosemary Baker, Paulette Alfred, Andrew Alfred, Rocky Loyce, James Randle, Bernedette Terry, and Elliott Alexander. 

‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things,

 I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of your Lord.’

Matthew 25:21

 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."

  Exodus 20:8

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