Mary Dell Robertson

Mary Dell Wilson Robertson, beloved and cherished mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend, is in the arms of Jesus. She was born on October 7, 1929, in Arlington, Tennessee to parents O'dell and Mary Shelton Wilson. She often attributed her good health and longevity to having been born on the family farm, where she lived until the age of 8 when her family moved into town following her father's death. Despite the loss of her father, Mary Dell had a happy childhood with her two sisters and brother. She enjoyed taking piano lessons and attended Arlington Elementary School and Bolton High School before entering Memphis State College, where she graduated in 1949. Mary Dell met her husband, Thomas B. Robertson, Jr., in Atlanta, where they married on November 25, 1955.

In 1971, she became a widow at 41 when her husband of 15 years died an accidental death. She then raised their four daughters on her own, devoting herself wholeheartedly to their needs and care and ensuring they had access to higher education. Education was important to Mary Dell. She was promoted past third grade into fourth grade and entered college at the age of 16. At 19, she became a teacher and taught shorthand, typing, bookkeeping and English at schools in TN, SC, and GA. At 28, when her eldest daughter turned three, Mary Dell left teaching to focus on her family. Twenty-four years later she returned, this time in Duval County as a middle-school English teacher, where she worked until her retirement in 1995.

Mary Dell was a member of the Arlington Garden Club, an avid bridge player, Junior Garden Club leader, and a volunteer reader to the kindergarteners at Arlington Elementary School. She was a 50+ year member of Arlington United Methodist Church where she volunteered in various capacities, including teaching 5th & 6th grade Sunday School for 10 years. Mary Dell advocated for a multitude of worthy causes, frequently spending hours typing letters on her trusty manual typewriter.

Mary Dell set a wonderful example for her family by being a woman of strong faith. She was frugal, honest, fair, and extremely generous, and had a strong sense of justice. She is deeply loved and will be deeply missed by her family: daughters Susan (Karl) Jaeger, Jean (Denny) Metzger, Carolyn (Graham) Claverie, Helen (Kevin) Jones; grandchildren Wayne (Sarah) DuBose, Benjamin Jaeger, Caroline (David) Jaeger Anderson, Chelsea (Eric) Claverie Balog, Gabriel (Laurel) Claverie, Wyatt (Marissa) Metzger, Greg Jaeger, Becca Jaeger, Caitlyn (Zach) Claverie Ferraro, Wesley (fiancee Sabrina) Metzger, Wendy Metzger, Micah (fiancee Alyssa) Jones, Luke Jones; great grandchildren Jason Courteaux, Rylee DuBose, Reese Balog; niece Judy (Bill) Tanner; nephew Harry (Shelby) Wilson; and great nieces and nephews. Mary Dell is predeceased by her husband, Thomas Brackett Robertson, Jr.; parents O'dell and Mary Shelton Wilson; siblings Louise (Larry) Barker, Harry (Bobbie) Wilson, Kathryn (Taylor) Ricketts; nephews Charlie (Diane) Wilson, Mike Ricketts; niece Sandra Ricketts; grandson Raymond Metzger.

Visitation will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, May 24, 2025, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 11 AM at Arlington United Methodist Church, 1400 University Blvd N, Jacksonville, FL  32211.  A reception will follow.  A graveside service will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, May 25, 2025 at Decatur Cemetery, 229 Bell Street, Decatur, GA 30030. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Alzheimer's Association, The Foundation of Community Hospice, or the Music Ministry of AUMC.