Mattie Lou Geer Robinson was born Wednesday, October 9, 1929 in Bridgeport, Alabama at about 5pm in her parents’ home. Born to Thomas Beecher Geer and Martha Elizabeth Geer she was the ninth of ten children and the last girl. Mattie Lou adored her parents and always said she could not have had a better father or mother. They raised her to believe in God and were respected in the community, despite being poor, for their honesty and integrity. The whole family worked hard on the farm and Mattie Lou was proud she could contribute by picking her fair share of cotton. When Mattie Lou was about twelve years old a tragic fire destroyed their home in Bridgeport and her father moved the family of five boys and five girls to Cowan, Tennessee where they continued to work a farm while her father found additional work on the railroad.
Mattie Lou excelled in school and loved learning. She graduated from Winchester High School in Winchester, Tennessee and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Elementary Education from Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas in May 1952. While in college and after graduation she taught elementary school in Cowan and then in Paragould, Arkansas. She met the love of her life Grover Cleveland ‘G.C.’ Robinson, Jr. on December 27, 1953. After their marriage on June 27, 1954 Mattie Lou retired from teaching and devoted the next twenty-four years to caring for her own beloved four children and husband.
Mattie Lou always said she loved being a wife and mother but also said she was ‘a born teacher’. Children had a special place in her heart. When her own children were grown she became re-certified as a teacher in 1978 and spent 14 years teaching third graders at Knoxville Christian School in Knoxville, Tennessee. During her first three years she was also acting principal. After retirement she enjoyed enduring friendships with not only the staff but many of the students she taught at KCS.
Throughout life Mattie Lou took on special teaching and mentoring projects. She taught children in Sunday School for many years and also enjoyed teaching the International Ladies’ Class at Laurel Church of Christ. She made lasting friendships with women from China, Japan, Hungary and elsewhere. Mattie Lou and G.C. also became involved with the deaf congregation at Laurel and took classes to learn the deaf language. Mattie Lou was then able to teach deaf children’s Bible classes. In her own time she also tutored children with learning disabilities. During their time at Karns Church of Christ Mattie Lou and G.C. were involved in the School of Preaching where they met and ‘fell in love’ with Dhanpersaud Ramkelawan and became his ‘parents’. After his graduation and return to Suriname they supported him in his preaching ministry.
Mattie Lou always had a concern for the underdog and the underprivileged. She abhorred violence and bigotry. She helped engender kindness among her neighbors toward the first Black family to move into her neighborhood by visiting them openly, inviting them over to share a meal and becoming friends. In her later years she continued to grow spiritually and came to appreciate Black people and all peoples of color in a new and beautiful way. Her two favorite movies during her last months were To Sir With Love and Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner both starring Sidney Poitier. She felt that both movies should be required viewing for young people today to help open their eyes and hearts to see the beauty and equality of all people and to be aware of the poison of prejudice.
Mattie Lou loved life. She was a warm-hearted, kind and gentle woman. She was a devoted mother, adoring wife and loyal friend. She had a keen sense of humor and enjoyed sharing a good, clean joke and hearty laugh. Many times she said it was ‘better to laugh than to cry—at least most of the time’. She could also share in others’ sadness and be a comfort during times of grief.
Honoring birthdays, anniversaries and other significant dates of those she loved was something Mattie Lou delighted in. She was always happy that she shared the same birthday as her eldest brother Charles. When a baby was born or someone married or died on someone else’s significant date it pleased her very much. It is remarkable and special to her family that the Lord allowed Mattie Lou to pass into His care on the 15th of August, the same day that her beloved husband G.C. had passed into God’s care in 2017. We know they are now rejoicing together with their beloved eldest son Tim who also passed into God’s care on May 27th, 2022.
Mattie Lou was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 63 years Grover Cleveland Robinson, Jr.; parents Thomas Beecher and Martha Elizabeth Geer; siblings Charles Holder Geer, Emmaline Elizabeth Geer Smith, Amanda Adelia Geer DeGraw, Samuel Lee Geer, Thomas Carter Geer, Burnie Elizabeth Geer Bryant, Dora Virginia Geer Grayson, James Clark Geer and Carl Wesley Geer; beloved eldest son Timothy Sewell Robinson; special family friend Al Behel; and many other beloved family and friends.
Left to cherish Mattie Lou’s memory are her loving children Amy Rebecca Robinson Simmerman (Scott), Stephen Andrew Robinson (Jennifer) and Penelope Ruth Robinson Lester (Philip); loving grandchildren Mary Victoria Robinson, Quintin Kelly Lester and Philip Ransom Lester; special brother-in-law Robert Grayson; special brother-in-law Joe Horton; special nephew Perry Degraw and family; special great-nephew Andrew Danner and family; special great-niece Allison Danner and family; special friend Teresa Pegel Mitchell, special family of Al and Linda Behel; special family of Dhanpersaud and Asha Ramkelawan; the Karns Church of Christ family; and many other beloved family and friends.
A special thanks to Dr. Jon Parham and staff and UT Hospice nurses Niko, Ann, and Lydia, among others, for their loving care of Mattie Lou in her last days. Also a special thanks to Carrie and Jeremy and all the staff at Berry Highland West and Berry Funeral Home for their guidance and compassion. You are all special people. May God bless you and all the other family and friends who have given of themselves so generously in caring for our dear Mattie Lou.
The family will receive friends at Berry Highland West (9913 Sherrill Blvd. Knoxville, TN 37932) on Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 12 pm to 2 pm with her funeral service and interment to follow.
In lieu of flowers or food the Robinson family kindly requests that you make a contribution in Mattie Lou’s memory to support the Tennessee Children’s Home https://www.tennesseechildrenshome.org/, or Knoxville Christian School https://kcsknights.org/, or the Southeast Institute of Biblical Studies (SEIB) https://makingpreachers.com/.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BerryHighlandWest.com for the Robinson family.
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