Marjorie Elene Carpenter Robinson of Rabun Gap, affectionately known as Mama, Mother, Margie, Grandma, Mema, Grandma in the Mountains, Great Grandma, Polyanna, Sweet Pea and Granny Grunt, passed away Aug. 1, 2016, at the age of 97 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, peacefully surrounded by her family.
She was born April 21, 1919, in Rabun County to the late James and Ida Carpenter. She was the ninth child of 10 children. She was preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband Ralph Robinson, six brothers, Thomas Carpenter, Jessie Lee Carpenter, John Carpenter, Fred Carpenter, Carl Carpenter and Lawrence Carpenter, and two sisters, Evelyn Cannon and Esther Dills.
She lived most of her life in Rabun County. She graduated from Rabun Gap-Nacoochee High School. After high school, she attended Rabun Gap Junior College and Piedmont College, where she received her teaching certificate. After completing college, she taught elementary school at Lakemont and Tiger.
After marrying her husband, she gave up her teaching career and became a homemaker to raise her two sons, Morris and Gary, and one daughter, Judy. Later in life, she returned to work in the manufacturing industry, from which she retired in 1981.
She joined Head of Tennessee Baptist Church at the age of 13 in 1932 while attending a revival that was held in the new building. She was a kindhearted, cheerful, family oriented and hardworking lady who always liked to add some humor to everyone’s life that she met. She loved sharing stories about her journey through life with others, working in her garden, telling jokes, sewing, quilting, reading her Bible and spending time with her family.
Marjorie is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Morris Robinson (Darlene) of Rabun Gap, and Gary Robinson (Cookie) of Greensboro, one daughter, Judy Robinson Smith of Tiger, and one brother, Marlar Carpenter (Geneva) of Chatsworth. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Stephanie (Eddie) Watts, Jennifer (David) Baloun, Shannon Robinson, Holly (Robb) Owens and Jon K. Smith, seven great-grandchildren Brittany Ragsdale (Derrick), Ashley Whitmire (Jason), Dustin Henderson, Ethan Baloun, Jacob Baloun, Eli Owens and Lucy Owens, and five great-great-grandchildren, Jordan Ragsdale, Amanda Ragsdale, Aubree Whitmire, Amos Whitmire and Allie Henderson.
The family received friends at Beck Funeral Home on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today in the Beck Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Jewel Gaines officiating. Interment will follow in the Rabun Memory Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to your choice of Head of Tennessee Baptist Church, Lakemont Baptist Church, Rabun Gap Nacoochee School Alumni Association or Rabun County Senior Center.
Beck Funeral Home, in Clayton, is in charge of the arrangements. An online Memorial Register Book is available at www.beckfuneralhome.com.
The Clayton Tribune, Aug. 4, 2016