Lillian Rose Robinson, daughter of the late great Eddie G. Robinson, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the age of 72.
Homegoing services for Lillian Rose Robinson Broaden was held on Friday, Feb. 21 with a public viewing at Miller Funeral Home in Ruston. Service was held Saturday, Feb. 22 at the New Rocky Valley Baptist Church in Grambling.
Born Feb 7, 1942, to the late Eddie G. Robinson and Doris Mott Robinson in Baton Rouge. Lillian Rose grew up in Grambling where she met some of her closest life friends.
Mary Raven Ellis, who was a best friend to Lillian Rose throughout grade school and high school, remembers her as a outgoing, fun to be around person with a gentle, caring spirit.
“She was a very dear person to me and anyone who knew her closely,” says Ellis. She also remembers her wit as “out of sight”.
Her favorite memory of Lillian Rose was when she introduced her to her two children Mike and Sherry.
Ellis recalls Lillian’s love for children saying ” children loved her and she loved the children.”
Not only did Lillian Rose love children but she also loved teaching and living life. She followed the path of her mother, maternal grandmother, and grand-aunts in becoming an educator. After receiving her undergraduate and master’s degree from Grambling College, Lillian Rose began her career teaching electronics for the United States Army at NASA’s Marshall Space and Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
After working there for several years she began working for the U.S. Department of Defense at fort Rucker, Ala. While there she taught helicopter pilots.
Another friend of Lillian Rose Robinson was Jon Givens. She remembers Lillian for her vibrant personality and compassionate, intellectual side.
“It wasn’t glamorous to be smart during our time. “She would show her athletic abilities, as opposed to her intellect, but you couldn’t run with us if you weren’t smart,” said Givens.
Lillian Rose was a majorette at Grambling High and was athletic. Although the two went their separate ways in life, Givens says the two shared a friendship like no other.
“We were the kind of friends that were extremely close, there was nothing that we didn’t share with each other,” said Givens.
Her greatest passion came from teaching her kindergarten students, having taught in Natchitoches and Shreveport.
She leaves to cherish her memories her beloved mother, Doris Robinson; son, Michael Watkins (Stacey) of Dallas, Texas; daughter, Cherie Watkins Kirkland of Atlanta, Georgia; three grandchildren, Brittni Lauren and Michael Watkins, II of Dallas, Texas; and Channing Kirkland of Atlanta, Georgia; nephew, Eddie Robinson, III (Antoinette) of Atlanta, Georgia; niece, Sharon Moore (Michael) of Jonesboro, Georgia and niece, Cheryl Clifton (Charles) of Lithonia, Georgia; seven grand nephews and nieces; and a host of devoted relatives and friends from around the world.