Willie L. Robinson

From “Roots to Wings” summarizes the life of a man who deeply loved his family and had a strong sense of right and wrong. As a father, scholar and gentleman Willie made a lasting impression on people. From rural Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee he witnessed vast social change over the years, but always tried to greet people with a smile and in the spirit of friendship while taking pictures along the way. 

Willie Edgar Lee Robinson was born August 19, 1943 in Lincoln County Mississippi to the late Willie Ivy Robinson and Lenora Amos Robinson Keys. While raised in a Christian family, Willie did not remember being baptized. As a result, in 2011 he formally accepted Christ and was baptized at his childhood church and continued supporting the ministries of Cool Spring Missionary Baptist Church in McCall Creek, MS. 

As a small child, Willie was seriously burned when he fell into some ashes while playing. This accident permanently injured his right hand and although it was a traumatic event, the injury did not keep him from achieving many of his goals. Growing up Willie loved all kinds of music and enjoyed imitating the artists for his family and friends. “Dukeum” was a nickname given by his mother who often listened to the country musician, The Duke of Paducah on the powerful WLAC radio station out of Nashville. The nickname stuck and coincidentally Nashville, TN later became Willie’s home. 

Willie’s family moved to Quentin and then to Picayune, Mississippi where he graduated from George Washington Carver High School in 1962. During his time there he played football for the Carver High Pirates who are recognized for a long winning streak from 1958-1964. His sophomore year was spent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the desegregated Lincoln High School where he first discovered his love of foreign languages. After high school, Willie attended Mary Holmes Junior College where he played football and graduated with an associates degree in 1964. From there he attended Jackson State College (now Jackson State University) and became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He graduated in 1967 with a degree in Spanish. After graduation he taught high school Spanish in Jackson and Vicksburg, Mississippi.

While attending Jackson State Willie met the late Mildred Marie Varnado and they united in Holy Matrimony on June 14, 1966. To this union were born a daughter and son. Later Willie, Mildred and Carla moved to Nashville, Tennessee so he could pursue a master’s degree at Tennessee State University which he earned in 1976. Willie also became employed with the State of Tennessee in 1970 and continued there in various positions for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services until he retired in 2008. In Nashville he attended Berean Baptist Church for many years and supported the ministry by taking pictures, recording the Sunday services and helping in any way he could.

 From an early age Willie always had a love genealogy, although he didn’t know what it was called at the time. In the mid-nineties, he completed a course in genealogy at Volunteer State Community College and a new hobby was born! He has done extensive research on his own family and Mildred’s. He often combed through census records, visited the state archives and interviewed older relatives for hours gathering information used to piece together African-American family histories that would have likely been forgotten. In addition, he enjoyed helping others with their own family research. Willie’s other hobby was photography. He carried his camera everywhere and he was often seen around town taking pictures at parties, reunions and other public events. Willie advertised his love of genealogy by handing out his special ink pens to everyone he met. Engraved on the pen is “WLR African-American Genealogy-Roots & Wings".

Willie was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Marie Varnado Robinson; parents Willie Ivy Robinson and Lenora Amos Robinson Keys; and one brother, Charlie Edward Keys. He leaves to cherish four children. Cornelius T. Taylor, Sr. (Verna) of Gulfport, MS; Monique Y. Dedeaux of Charlotte, NC; Carla M. Robinson and Willie C. Robinson both of Nashville, TN; two sisters, Mary Robinson of Brookhaven, MS and Shirley Murphy (Larry) of Milwaukee, WI; three grandchildren, Laderean Williams of Byram, MS; Cornelius T. Taylor II of Jacksonville, FL and Morgan Lee of Brooklyn, NY; sisters in-law Wilma Butler of Jackson, MS; Dr. Phillis Varnado of Jacksonville, FL; Shirley Varnado of Jackson, MS; Sharron Porter (Andrew) of Conyers, GA; Dr. Jacqueline Jackson (Charles) of Ridgeland, MS; Marilyn Varnado of Oakland, CA; Carolyn Varnado of Jackson, MS; brother-in-law Dennis Harden of Jackson, MS; beloved nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.