John Martin Robbins

John Martin Robbins, 21, of Raleigh, NC, passed away unexpectedly on April 27, 2024. Born August 29, 2002 in Raleigh, John was the beloved son of Caroline and Peter Robbins, and big brother to Noah Robbins.

John graduated from Millbrook High School in 2021 and completed his freshman year at Appalachian State University. He was currently working as a part-time cashier and Helping Hand at Wegmans. An avid fan of basketball, John played recreationally most of his life from the age of six, and he loved his favorite teams: Oklahoma City Thunder and UNC Tar Heels.

He greatly enjoyed outdoor activities like rock climbing and ziplining, and always looked forward to annual family vacations to the NC coast and mountains. Most recently, he savored the experience of overseas travel with his family by visiting Ireland and meeting distant relatives on both his mother and father’s side.

John’s fearless nature and passion for seeking out exciting new adventures meant he was always ready for the next big thing. This spirit carried over into many aspects of his life. A “foodie” who embraced both his Irish and Italian ancestry, John never met a dish he wouldn’t try. He loved reading Stephen King, driving, hanging out with friends at ECU, and seeing the latest Star Wars movies with his brother and father. John also appreciated all genres of music, playing piano in his younger years, and later, guitar. He enjoyed attending concerts with his Dad, including Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, and many other Greats.

As much as John loved sports and thrill-seeking, he was equally gentle – a humble, polite, considerate, and compassionate young man. Even early on, those who knew him well considered John an “old soul.” He could hold his own in conversations with older adults but was equally great with younger kids and animals, and they gravitated to him naturally. He had a special bond with his favorite dog, Orville.

John was brilliantly gifted in so many different ways. He was ahead of his years, always a deep thinker with a great sense of humor and an unparalleled dry wit. He possessed a wealth of knowledge and creativity. Whether instantly solving complex math equations in his head, or skillfully using words to craft a circus description you could actually see, hear, and smell in your mind, his intellectual ability and talents were evident from a young age. In fifth grade he won a poetry contest, becoming one of four students chosen that year to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

Though his loss leaves an irreparable hole in many hearts, the ripples of John’s life journey will be forever felt. His spirit will live on through every family member he loved, every person fortunate enough to call him “friend,” and the many lives he touched that will go forward from here, living life to the fullest, in his honor.

John had an unbreakable bond with his maternal grandmother (affectionately known as “Ahma”). He also deeply loved his aunt (“TT”), maternal grandfather (“Papa”), and paternal Grandpa Ken, and cherished the time he spent with each of them.

John was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother (“Nana”), Joan Robbins of Raleigh.

He is survived by his loving parents, Caroline and Peter of Raleigh, and his younger brother Noah, of the home; maternal grandparents Therese and William Martin of Raleigh; paternal grandfather Kenneth Robbins of Raleigh; maternal aunt Janine Askew of Fuquay-Varina; paternal uncle Daniel Robbins of Raleigh; two cousins, Olivia Askew of Chapel-Hill, and Megan Robbins of Bozeman, MT; several beloved family members in the New Jersey/New York area, as well as many other extended family members and friends.

Flowers welcome, or charitable donations to Autism Society of North Carolina, or Saving Grace Animals for Adoption NC. Information on how to donate is listed below under "donations"

A visitation for John will be held Thursday, May 9, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 East Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC 27609.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 10:00 AM, Sacred Heart Church, 200 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27603. A private family burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 East Millbrook Rd., Raleigh, NC 27609