Rosalind Marie Robinson

Rosalind Marie Robinson rose on the wings of dawn on April 26, 2026 and as it is written, "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast". Psalm 139:9-10

Rosalind Marie Watkins Robinson was born on April 30, 1948, in Nashville, Tennessee, at Nashville General Hospital. She was the daughter of Ann Elizabeth J. Watkins and Edward T. Watkins III (Navy veteran).

In her early childhood, Rosalind lived in Chicago, Illinois, where her father, worked as a porter and served as a sailor in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War U.S. Her mother operated a dry-cleaning business. Before the age of ten, Rosalind also spent meaningful time at her grandmother Elizabeth Johnson’s home in Tennessee, where she reflected on her dreams and began shaping the vision for the life she would one day lead.

She was nicknamed Peaches is befitting, the idiom “to be a Peach,” because she was sweet, highly valued, and desired. Anyone who knows Rosalind would attest to its accuracy.

The best way to describe her life is as a series of awakenings: civic, spiritual, creative, intellectual, and community.

Rosalind’s civic awakening was honed by the Nashville Civil Rights movement, where as a child passionate about freedom, Rosalind was arrested for non-violently protesting racial segregation.

Rosalind’s spiritual awakening grew beyond a casual love of Jesus into a comprehensive theological study. While her spiritual journey with God was marked by her memberships and baptisms at New Metropolitan Christian Missionary Baptist Church, Rose of Sharon Primitive Baptist Church, New Livingstone Baptist Church, and the church that renewed and kept her faith strong during the troubled times with her health, The Temple Church under the leadership of Pastor Darrell Antonio Drumwright.

Her education includes Nashville State Technical Institute where she studied Industrial Engineering and Liberty University where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Professionally, it became clear that she wanted to manifest her faith by being a servant of God, a steward of community service and a proponent of civic duty.

Her professional journey began with positions at Kroger, Hume-Fogg Public School, and Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). She later served as Housing Director at the Nashville Urban League.

However, guided by determination and purpose, she was blessed to fulfill her calling as a community leader in neighborhood revitalization focusing on the acquisition, stabilization, and community enhancement of safe, decent, and affordable housing.

Namely, she founded Residential Resources, Inc., a nonprofit she led for 28 years until her passing. As Founder and President, she guided the HUD‑ and THDA‑certified Comprehensive Affordable Housing Services Agency, providing counseling and education in homebuyer and homeowner services, rental and tenant preparedness, predatory lending prevention, default and loss mitigation, financial literacy, money management, credit reporting and repair, and affordable housing construction.

Her community leadership included service on the United Way of Greater Nashville’s 2‑Generation Initiative to prevent and end family homelessness, the NAACP Nashville Branch Standing Housing Committee, and membership in NAREB Nashville REALTISTS, Inc., the local chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, advancing equal housing opportunities for all.

Rosalind’s intellectual and spiritual journey also manifested itself as a creative awakening, as she painted, sculpted, and received national recognition for her poetry.

She was a matriarch and mentor to her family, friends, and colleagues. She loved to give advice, to learn, and to edify people.

From her own words: “There is nothing more enchanting to me than the beauty and personality diversity of people, especially children. My daughter Angela is my blessing, and my granddaughter Simone is my heart. Edward (deceased) and I will celebrate our 30th Anniversary on Sept. 30, and I appreciate his unrelenting support of all that I endeavor. I love the fulfillment in service to mankind, painting using various media, working in my garden, solving Sudoku puzzles, reading different subject matters, and writing poetry. I am published and have won awards for my poetry “

By her faith, Rosalind in Jesus Christ our Lord’s name walked with God and by His grace was judged faithful and her appointed to His service.

When I think of my mom, Rosalind Robinson, this, her favorite non-biblical quote sums her up “If I can help somebody as I travel along … my living shall not be in vain”- Mahalia Jackson.

“They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 35:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand". Isaiah 41:10

Rosalind is preceded in death by her devoted husband, Edward E. Robinson. 

Survived by her daughter, Dr. Angela Denise Howard; granddaughter, Simone Erica-Elizabeth Stout; aunts, Norma Williams and Fhonda (Clarence) Evans; uncle, Charlie Johnson; cousins, Eugene L. Watkins Jr (Helen); Jesse (Leatrice) Johnson Jr; Michael Johnson; Jeffery Johnson, Sr; Joyce (Sam) Johnson-Giles; Debbie Johnson-Gilliam; Beverly Johnson-Bender; Aundrea McClure; Janet B. McClure; Cheryl “Lorene” McClure; Michelle McClure; Michael Butler; Cordell Butler; Arlene Starks; Francis Smith; Douglas (Taronda) Williams; Roshunda Williams, Tanita Johnson; Loquisha Johnson; Kimberley (Jeremy) Slaughter; Chessley Jones Windnessa Jones and other cherished family members and friends.