Ruth H. Robinson

Ruth Hubbard Robinson, loving mother, aunt, friend, and community leader, crossed over from this earthly life on November 21, 2020. She was born September 18, 1926 in the Jamison community of Orangeburg County, South Carolina, a daughter of the late Charles Harrison Hubbard and Sarah Hook Hubbard. She was married to the late John Samuel Robinson who entered eternal rest on August 22, 1996. 

Ruth received her early education at Zion School in the Jamison community and at Claflin College secondary school. An exceptional student, she graduated from Zion High School, then received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Claflin University and a Master of Science degree in Education from South Carolina State University. She pursued additional studies at South Carolina State, the University of South Carolina, and the College of Charleston.

Her professional career spanned thirty years of teaching in Orangeburg, Calhoun, and Allendale counties. A certified reading teacher, she retired in 1986 from Nix Elementary School after twenty-three years of service, her life having touched thousands of children.

Ruth loved words! She loved the challenge of a crossword puzzle and could spend hours just browsing the dictionary. She often called her daughter to share a new word she had discovered. While she penned a few poems in the late 1950s when she was placed on voice rest following vocal cord surgery, Ruth began writing in earnest after taking a poetry course from Paul Allen at the College of Charleston. In 1996 she published IMAGES: Mirrored from the Heart, a poetry collection. Earlier, some of her poems were published in NOSTALGIA, a local publication; the local newspaper; several anthologies; the Festival of Roses Souvenir Program (1987); and MISCELLANY (1992), the literary journal of the College of Charleston. 

Raised in a Christian home, she was nurtured in the Methodist tradition at Zion Methodist Church in Jamison. Following her marriage to John in 1949 (a loving union which lasted until his death in 1996), they joined St. Luke Presbyterian Church in 1951 under the pastorate of the late Reverend William A. Sample where she continued to be an active and faithful servant of God. In 1983 St. Luke’s historic yearbook was published under her leadership as moderator of the Deacon Board. A member of Presbyterian Women, she chaired the Mission Sewing Project, was an usher, a stewardship committee member, and a regular Bible Study attendee. She and her late husband established the John S. and Ruth H. Robinson Scholarship Fund at St. Luke Presbyterian Church to provide financial assistance to young church members who chose to pursue their education beyond high school.

Her life memberships included the NAACP, Claflin’s International Alumni Association, and VFW Auxiliary Post 8166 where she was also a charter member. A caring and compassionate woman, she supported many local charities and was a volunteer with the Orangeburg Lutheran Church Quilters, making utility quilts for disaster-area distribution. Other affiliations included Church Women United, Orangeburg Mission to Families, Family and Community Leaders.

In her retirement, Ruth found great joy in quilting and she created some masterpieces that she lovingly shared with family and friends. A blue-ribbon quilter, she was a member of Southern Piecemakers and Every Thursday Quilt Guilds, garnering the “Best of Show” grand prize in 2005 at the Orangeburg County Fair. 

Ruth treasured her family not only her children and grandchildren, but her many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Whenever a family member celebrated a milestone or an accomplishment, there was an excellent chance that Ruth would be present for the occasion, or that she would recognize it in some way if she were unable to attend. She kept in touch with family members right up to the time of her passing.

She will be lovingly remembered by her sons Tyrone and Elton Robinson; her daughter Lynn Robinson Miller; grandson Ashton Miller; granddaughter Amanda Miller Christensen (Steve); great-grandson Marlon Christensen; brother Joseph “Jack” Hubbard (Shirley); sister-in-law Bernice Hubbard; nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.

Ruth’s life will be celebrated at a graveside service on Saturday, November 28,2020 at Belleville Memorial Gardens. We regret that only a few immediate family members may attend. Those wishing to remember Ruth are invited to make a gift to: The John S. and Ruth H. Robinson Scholarship Fund, St. Luke Presbyterian Church, PO Box 563, Orangeburg SC 29116, or The Claflin Fund, Claflin University, 400 Magnolia Street, Orangeburg SC 29115.

The service will proceed as follows:

The viewing will be held on Friday,November 27,2020 at Glover's Funeral Home at 1:00pm until 4:00pm. 

A private graveside service will be held on Saturday,November 28,2020 at Belleville Memorial Gardens beginning at 11:00am. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ruth H. Robinson, please visit our floral store.