Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was born to the union of Elmore and Annie Eliza Robinson on June 14, 1953, in Georgetown, South Carolina. Affectionately called “Rabbit” by his family and friends, Jackie grew up in the church and knew the Lord. He attended public school in Georgetown and, after graduating from Howard High School, joined the United States Navy. After completing his first term in the Navy, he obtained his bachelor’s degree from Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1979.

Following his undergraduate education, Jackie moved to Seattle, Washington, and became well-known for his activism on behalf of people living in poverty and underserved communities. After living in Seattle for about eight years, he spent time in California with friends and ultimately landed a job in Fort Hood, Texas, with the US Department of Defense, where he worked for 30 years until his retirement on November 30, 2016.

Jackie was kind and friendly; well-known; and liked by many. He loved to sit in his garage for hours, waving at every car that passed by.

He had good, good friends. True friends. Real friends. And they were good, true, real friends to his wife as well. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was never a bore.

Jackie departed this life on October 3, 2018, in the comfort of his home in his wife’s loving arms.

Those who will cherish his memories include his loving wife, Linda, of Killeen, TX; step-daughter, Vanessa Rae, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; six brothers: Wesley and John Edward of Georgetown, SC, Walter (Janet) of Charleston, SC, Anthony of Atlanta, Georgia, Thomas of Los Angeles, CA, and Bobby (Sarita) of Fairfield, CA; three sisters: Cynthia (Laurin) and Patricia of Georgetown, SC, and Virginia (Robert) of Atlanta, GA; aunt, Mary Pyatt; sisters-in-law, Brenda, Joyce, and Ruby; brother-in-law, James; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Jackie was preceded in death by his father, Elmore Robinson Sr., mother, Annie Eliza Robinson, and brothers Bernard, Willie, and Elmore Robinson Jr.