Andrew Anthony Robinson's Obituary
The Life Story Of
Andrew Anthony Robinson
Andrew came into this world on Wednesday, October 13, 1948, the child of Fred (‘Twelve’) Hopkins and Clara Adell Robinson. The Robinson family was a pioneering part of the early Miami Black community in the Overtown area. His grandfather, Andrew J. Robinson, Sr., moved to the young city in 1903, and they’ve been here ever since. He grew up in the family homestead on N.W. 16th Terrace. He attended Phylliss Wheatley Elementary, where he completed his coursework in only five years, skipping the fifth grade. He then attended the historic Booker T. Washington Junior-Senior High School on N.W. Sixth Avenue. Upon graduation in 1965, he was admitted to and received a partial academic scholarship to Florida State University in Tallahassee. Upon his enrollment there, he was among a group of five students, four from Miami, that were the first Blacks ever to live in the dormitories on campus. After his freshman year at FSU, Andrew decided to return to Miami and attend Miami-Dade Community College (now Miami-Dade College) and work, while he decided on his ultimate goals in life. In a development that he regretted for the rest of his life, one year became two, then five, ten, 15. Finally, in 1987, he completed his Bachelors degree program at Barry University in Miami Shores.
Early Years
Andrew grew up in a loving extended family, with his mother, younger brother Richard, grandparents Andrew, Sr. and Flossie, aunt Dorothy Robinson Butler, uncles Frank and Andrew, Jr. (Bo), and many cousins. Since he was the third Andrew of four, he was always known in the family as ‘Anthony’. The only childhood regret he had was that he never had the opportunity to have a close relationship with his father Fred before his untimely death in 1964 at the age of 47. However, he never wanted for adult male role models, thanks to the efforts of his uncles, Frank and Bo. Plus, God provided the ultimate role model in his grandfather. Andrew always expressed what an impression he made on him as a young boy, by the way he conducted himself and lived his life. He often recounted how his grandfather taught him to tell time at age three, and to tie a necktie at four or five.
Faith
He grew up in the historic St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church in Overtown, but fell away upon reaching adulthood. During his “period of discovery”, he made many life choices which saddened his beloved mother before her sudden death at age 57 in 1977. Later in life, he always said that, although he pulled away from God, God never pulled away from him. He always said that he knew he had a personal guardian angel. He encountered many
situations that most people wouldn’t have survived, but that angel kept him safe. As he matured, he gradually came around to rediscovering his Faith. Finally, in 2006, he gave his life back to God and to Jesus Christ. He joined Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Perrine, where he served faithfully for the rest of his life.
Relationships
Andrew was married four times during his life. In May of 1973, he married the late Sarah Bell Chatman of Kingstree, SC. Her son, Cedric Bembery was like his own son to Andrew. In fact, he always felt that he was. In 1983, he married Curlene Marmanda Newman, of Cobbla Parish in Jamaica, West Indies. He eventually helped to bring five of her children to the US – Cecile, Michele, Wayne, Jason and David. He deeply loved all of them, and always treated them as his, and the children they eventually had as his grandchildren. In 1989, he married Penny Jane Conrad of Ft. Wayne, IN. That union produced Bianca, Precious, and Franklin, who were the lights of his life until the day he died. On his birthday in 2000, he married Susan Renee McCollins, who was his life companion until his death.
Health
As Andrew reached his late fifties, he began to experience health issues. Many were due in part to poor choices he made in his early years. In late 2004, he was diagnosed as suffering from kidney failure. He began to get dialysis treatments at least three times a week. He was never able to be placed on the kidney transplant list for various reasons, and was on dialysis for the rest of his life. In August of 2010, he also began to experience heart difficulties, leading to cardiac double-bypass surgery on August 27, 2010.
Employment
Andrew worked a variety of jobs in his youth, usually as an account clerk or bookkeeper. In 1983, he joined Miami-Dade County as an account clerk. Taking advantage of their Tuition Refund program, he used this opportunity to earn that long-delayed college degree. As he continued in County service, he progressed through the ranks to Accountant 1 and then Accountant 2, acting as an Accounting Supervisor in the Department of Human Services. In 1995, he acted on his longtime interest in the burgeoning PC field to change careers and join Miami-Dade’s Information Technology Department. He worked there until failing health forced him to retire in March, 2010 after 26½ years. The last few years of service were spent as a web designer, creating and maintain County websites.
Going Home
On April 17, 2022, Andrew went home to be with our Lord. He was at peace, and looked forward to seeing his Beloved mother Clara and grandfather, plus all the
family and friends who preceded him. His only concern was with those he left behind. In his own words, He wanted to say, “Don’t worry about me. I truly believe I’m going to a better place. Just live your life according to the grand plan laid out in the Holy Bible, and we’ll see each other again, on the other side”.
Andrew leaves to mourn his wife, Susan R. Robinson, children Bianca Andrea Robinson, Precious Vera Robinson, Franklin Edward Robinson, Cecile Cornelius (Berry), Michele McKenzie (Mike), Wayne Young, David Young, and Cedric Bembery, his only brother, Richard C. Wliiams, and grandchildren Brinetta Swann, Malik McKenzie, Mykala McKenzie, Shane Young, Cheyenne Young, Ce’Niyah Cunningham, Marleigh Young, Harmonie Young and Brea Bembery, Great-grandchildren Brianna Swann, Anias Young and Cheyenne’s baby, plus many cousins and a host of friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ. He was especially close to his high school classmates from the BTW Class of 1965, even after all these years
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