Virginia "Jenny" Henderson Robinson, 95, died September 22, 2015 after a long, fulfilling life. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, August 27, 1920, while her father was managing a farm after his graduation from Monmoth College in Illinois. The family soon moved to the Henderson Family Farm along the banks of the Alabama River in Miller's Ferry, Alabama, raising cotton, soybeans and cattle. She and her sister Jane played tennis every morning before breakfast, and rode and showed horses after school. Two brothers, Donny and Jimmy, were born into the family shortly thereafter. Jenny was Valedictorian of Camden High School Class of 1938 and attended two years at Randolph Macon College for Women. After transferring to Vanderbilt University, Jenny sang in the Chorale, which backed up Dinah Shore of Peabody College. She was voted AOPI Sorority Favorite before graduating in 1942. She subsequently entered the Massie Business School in Birmingham, Alabama. Upon graduation, with spirit of patriotism, Jenny joined the United States Naval Reserve, "WAVES", and obtained officer training from Smith College leading to her installation in Charleston, SC as Lt. JG. There she marched her platoon on the battery to tunes such as "Over There, Over There - it won't be over til it's over - Over There". She taught US Naval Intelligence personnel secret codes, released them to sea duty, and then she decoded ship to shore messages for the Admiral during World War II. Married to Jo Newell Robinson, MD of Talladega, Alabama following his graduation from Tulane Medical School, the couple lived in Birmingham during pediatric residency following his tour of duty to the Philippine Islands after the war. An invitation from Columbus, MS came for an interview to become the town pediatrician - The rest is history. Jenny was a devoted wife to "Dr. Jo" attending to many details behind the scene where needed and fielding calls during his "house call" hours. They were an integral part of the community taking care of thousands of patients through this pediatric practice. " Dr. Jo" and "Miss Jenny" were married 61 years and raised two children, Kathryn and Newell. Jenny devoted countless hours to civic duty. During her father's narrow defeat in his bid to unseat James "Big Jim" Folsom as governor of Alabama, she used her intelligence, business acumen, and organizational skills to run the Tuscaloosa, Alabama campaign headquarters. Perhaps her greatest passion in later life, besides her devotion to family and friends, was her life long relationship with the game of bridge. Even up to her dying day, she was a formidable opponent, while she engendered her most endearing and cherished qualities pursuing what she had referred to in earlier life as "peopling". In this day where networking is the norm, for this more personal version, she will be missed. She chaired each of the following local Columbus organizations: Lowndes County Medical Alliance, First Presbyterian Women of the Church with adjunct projects at Palmer Home for Children, Columbus Jr. Auxiliary, Magnolia Garden Club, Demonstration School PTA, Les Amies Study Club, and last but not least The Sewing Club. Best kept secret: they rarely sewed, but met community and societal needs of the times. She regularly sang in the Presbyterian Church choir, and was a player for the Columbus Little Theater. Surviving Jenny are daughter Kathryn Robinson Holland of Atlanta and Highlands, NC: son Newell Bruce Robinson, MD and wife Victoria Genovese Robinson of Cold Spring Harbor, NY. Grandchildren are Rev. Caroline Steinemann Unzaga and husband Reverend Ignaki Unzaga of Clifton, NJ; Virginia Ruth Robinson of New York City, Laura Steinemann Zimmerman and husband Daniel Isaac Zimmerman of San Francisco, CA. Sarah Robinson of New York, NY; Newell Bryce Robinson of Wake Forrest, NC; and Hunter Robinson of Davidson, NC. Great Grandchildren are Isabel Laura Unzaga and Frances Sebastian "Sebie" Unzaga of Clifton, NJ. All were much cherished by their matriarch, who has passed on to life everlasting with the heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. Preceding Jenny in death were Jo Newell Robinson, MD, husband; Martha Jane McDonald, sister; Donald Robert Henderson, brother; James Bruce Henderson, brother and her parents Ethel and Senator James Bruce Henderson, Sr. Visitation will be Friday, September 25, 2015, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Gunter & Peel Funeral Home and Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church. Services will follow at 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian with Rev. Tom Bryson and Caroline Unzaga officiating. Pall Bearers will be Bo Roberts, Newell Bryce Robinson, Hunter Robinson, Rev. Joseph Ignaki Unzaga, Daniel Issac Zimmerman, John Adams Carson Robinson, Edward Bryce Robinson and Dabney Price Robinson, Jr. In lieu of flowers, memorials mau be sent to Palmer Home for Children, PO Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703; Presbyterian Home for Children, P.O. Drawer 577, Talladega, AL 35161 or to the First Presbyterian Church of Columbus, PO Box 9681, Columbus, MS 39705.
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