Ethel Mcleod Robinson

Ethel McLeod Robinson passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord on August 11, 2024, at McLeod Hospice House. Her Celebration of Life will be 11:00 AM Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at the Florence Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Florence, South Carolina. Guests may visit with the family following the service. Ethel was born in Paxville, South Carolina, on January 4,1925, to Claude Robert McLeod and Minnie Geddings McLeod. She moved to Florence during her childhood when her father went to work with the railroad. Ethel graduated from Florence High School and as a young adult worked at the telephone company as an operator. She married the love of her life, David Samuel Robinson, Jr., on October 23, 1946. Ethel was a devoted wife, mother, and full-time homemaker while David ran Harvey’s Thriftway, a favorite of many Florentines. As a couple they knew raising their children in a Christian home and worshiping together took precedence. In 1949, she and her husband became founding members of Calvary Baptist Church in Florence where they faithfully took their three children and many nieces and nephews. David, Gene, and Nancy witnessed their parents model the essence of their faith and love for one another for 50 years. Recently during Calvary’s 75th celebration, the church honored Ethel as their longest living charter member. At the age of 99, she held that distinction close to her heart, but nothing compared to her outstanding role as a mother, grandmother, and homemaker. She loved cooking for her family. A freshly baked pie and a hot pan of biscuits could always be found resting on her stove. Her cooking was so popular with the grandchildren that one grandson and his wife created a cookbook of all of their favorite recipes of Grandma Robinson from asparagus casserole, her famous coconut pie, to her special glaze on her baked ham at Easter! Her other talent included sewing everything from little girl dresses to beautiful drapes for her home. Ethel is predeceased by her husband, parents; sisters, Claudine McLeod Edgerton, Willie McLeod Jordan, and Faye McLeod Edwards; and brother, Earl McLeod, and a special nephew Buck McLeod. Surviving are her sons, David Samuel Robinson III (Esther) and Eugene McLeod Robinson (Terry); daughter Nancy O’Dell (Edward); grandchildren; Bradley (Keelie) Robinson, Anne (Jonathan) Evans, Justin Robinson, Rev. Clay (Sarah) Robinson, McLeod (Hallie) Robinson, Dr. Jason (Elizabeth) O’Dell, Michael (Kim) O’Dell, Daniel (Mireya) O’Dell, and Katie O’Dell. She is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren and a special great-niece and nephew Jackee Johnston and Sam (Emily) Anderson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to : St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN. 38105 Services being directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home. Please sign the Guest Book for the family at www.stoudenmiredowling.com.