Doris Elizabeth Samuel Robinson

ROBINSON, Doris Elizabeth Samuel, age 92, formerly of Lakeside in Henrico County, Virginia, died Thursday, March 10, 2016. She is predeceased by her parents, Thomas Alfred Samuel II and Elizabeth Talley Samuel, and her brother Thomas Alfred Samuel III. She is survived by her son, Raymond Earl Robinson (Brenda) and daughter Judith Anne Robinson Edwards (Jim); six grandchildren: John Corey Robinson (Sylvia), Jeffrey Harris Robinson (Aly), William Brandon Robinson, Daniel Alden Edwards (Lynda), Jennifer Alison Edwards Horst (Joe), and Shannon Marie Edwards; ten great-grandchildren: Dylan Loving, Jessica Haley Robinson, Thomas Cole Robinson, Emily Lorelai Robinson, Melanie Ruth Edwards, Kaitlyn Anna Edwards, Abigail Irene Edwards, Forest Devon Horst, Brenan Matthew Horst, and Nora Rain Horst; and her foster daughter Earline Hazel Butler Robb Bayliss and grandson Earl Taylor Robb, Jr.

Mrs. Robinson was a long time member of the Fellowship Sunday School class at Lakeside United Methodist Church and active in many social groups such as Spares and Pairs, XYZers, and the Tea Guild.

Remains rest at the Parham Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 1771 Parham Road where visitation will be held Monday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and services will be conducted Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. followed by interment at Greenwood Memorial Gardens.

Doris Elizabeth Samuel Robinson was born July 4, 1923, the day Jack Dempsey won the World Heavyweight Boxing title vs. Tommy Gibbons. It was also the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and America has celebrated Mom’s birthday with fireworks ever since.

Doris was the daughter of Thomas Alfred “Ally” Samuel II and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Talley, and sister of her older brother Thomas Alfred Samuel III, who was known as “Sammy”, or “Junior”.

Born on Park Avenue in Richmond, Virginia, she and her family moved briefly to 2nd Avenue in Highland Park, and then in 1929, when Doris was 6 years old, they moved to 5410 Bloomingdale Avenue in Lakeside, where Doris grew up. Her mom did not work outside the home, and her dad was a cement finisher/foreman. It was during the depression, and Doris’ mother made many of her clothes out of chicken feed bag material. Doris had a special puppy named “Tilly-wee”, and once when she became lost, she was found with Tilly-wee by her side.

As a small child Doris attended Emmanuel Church Parish School at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. She recalled crossing the creek, and walking up the hill to the school, and told about the nice lady who lived across the road (the Stewart house) who visited the school at Christmas time, and gave each child a nickel as a Christmas present. The lady shared with them a story of watching a Civil War battle from her upstairs room near the church when she herself was a small child. Doris’ mother, Lizzie, had attended the same school before there was a public school in the area.

Doris then went to Dumbarton School, graduating from the ninth grade at the top of her class, and was the Valedictorian, giving a graduation speech written by her teacher. Doris graduated from Glen Allen High School, class of 1940, and attended Richmond Business School to learn shorthand.

Doris attended Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church, and then became a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church where she attended with her best friend, Irene Tiller. Doris and Irene used to prepare the sacraments for communion. Doris and Irene spent a lot of time together, and Doris remembered how they used to walk to Hill Monument on Hermitage Road. Doris also became a foster mother to Faye and Earline Butler.

Doris was always good at math, and she went to work at a bank at 5th and Main, but she was hesitant to handle other people’s money, and refused to work as a teller, preferring to use her shorthand skills instead.

Doris married the love of her life, Clyde Wilson Robinson, in September,1944 at the age of 21. They traveled by train to honeymoon in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. They lived for 6 months in Lebanon, VA, near Clyde’s home, but moved to Richmond when Doris promised she would join a Methodist church. In 1946 they purchased their new home at 5205 Smith Avenue in Lakeside, and had a son, Raymond Earl Robinson in December, 1946, and a daughter, Judith Anne Robinson Edwards in August, 1950.

Doris lost her mother to a heart attack in 1952, and she and her family moved in with her father for a year to help care for her foster daughters, Faye and Earline.

Doris worked as a stenographer/secretary for the president of the Virginia Funeral Directors Association, and later as a stenographer/secretary for the president of the Southern Athletic Conference, riding the bus to and from work.

Doris enjoyed social activities, and busied herself as Girl Scout leader at Lakeside Methodist Church where she remained active in Women’s Circles. She was a member of the Fellowship Sunday School class, and she was active in multiple Senior Citizen groups. She and Clyde took up square dancing.

Clyde died in 1981, devastating Doris, but she was determined to accept what life had presented to her, and doggedly took upon herself the additional tasks previously shared with Clyde. She developed a network for home maintenance needs, and accepted financial responsibilities. She cranked up the lawnmower and cut the grass. And she continued to be socially active. She continued to participate in Senior Citizen groups, and was a member of multiple square dancing groups. Doris traveled extensively, not only on local trips with senior groups and square dancing groups, but also to places such as California, Alaska, Germany, and Paris.

Doris was a member of a local Tea Guild, and attended the Widowed Persons Support Group sponsored by Woody’s Funeral Home regularly.

Doris continued attending Lakeside United Methodist Church as long as she was able, and usually provided transportation for others, not only to church, but often to lunch afterward. She sat on the “widow’s row”about 2/3 of the way to the rear on the right in the sanctuary.

Doris had several suitors after Clyde’s death, but she only had love for one husband. Besides, none of them could quite keep up with her, and she outlived them all.

Doris had major surgery in 2001 at age 78 that slowed her down, and then two additional major surgeries in 2005 and 2008. Doris spent time recovering at her daughter Judy’s home, at a rehab center, at Manor Care, and at Imperial Plaza.

In 2005 Hurricane Gaston flooded her home, and she had to be evacuated by boat through the front door. Doris repaired the damage caused by two feet of water in her house, and returned.

In March, 2009, Doris became unable to live alone, and her daughter Judy and her husband, Jim, and their daughter Shannon moved in to provide the assistance that Doris now needed. She spent many enjoyable days at Circle Center Adult Day Care, and participated in the activities there. After almost 3 years, Doris needed more assistance than could be given in her home, and Doris moved to Heritage Green in Mechanicsville in September, 2011.