James Robinson

James B. Robinson, 74, died peacefully at home January 3 surrounded by his family. Born in Memphis on March 23, 1939, to J.O. and Kahdra Robinson, he grew up in North Memphis and graduated from Humes High School in 1957. He served three years as a Chinese linguist with the United States Army, which led to a life-long love of China. He spent the majority of his working life in advertising, beginning at the Memphis Commercial Appeal in 1960. In the early 1980s, he and Jack DeLaRua became the principal partners in Robinson & DeLaRua Advertising. In later years, he completed his master's degree in geography and went on to teach geography at colleges and universities around the Mid-South. He also was a licensed real estate agent, active in his church, served in the Tennessee State Guard, and as a docent at the Memphis Zoo. He leaves behind Janelle, his wife of 53 years; a son, Kevin and daughter in-law Elizabeth Robinson, of Hoosick Falls, NY and his grandson Christopher Reed, 24, of Nashville; a daughter, Alina and son-in-law Paul A. Shook Jr. and their children Abigail, 12; Garrett, 10; and Leslie, 5, of Bartlett. The family will receive friends January 7, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Memphis Funeral Home Poplar Chapel. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Raleigh United Methodist Church, 3295 Powers Road, Memphis, TN. Memorial gifts may be made to Ave Maria Home in Bartlett, Friends of the Smokies, or the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.