Odessa Eakin Robinson

The golden streets of Heaven rang with joy the evening of Thursday, April 20, 2023. That was when Odessa Eakin Robinson went to join her beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was greeted with much celebration by her parents John (Pappy) and Julia (Miss Julie, aka Big Momma), and 13 of her siblings who had been excitedly awaiting her arrival. What a homecoming that must have been!

Odessa Eakin was born to John and Julia Venable Eakin in Hollywood, Alabama. The family grew to 15 hardworking, rowdy, funny and loving siblings (8 girls and 7 boys), all with a strong faith in God. Mom was no stranger to hard work: picking cotton, taking care of her younger siblings, or owning, running, and cooking for 3 businesses (a café, theater and giftshop) on the square in Scottsboro, all at the same time. She earned a Businesswoman of the Year award during this time, while she was in her late teens and early 20s.

She met the great love of her life, Larrie Robinson and they were married for over 60 years. They both worked hard at everything they did and raised a son, Robbie, and a daughter, Lynn. While in Scottsboro, Mom went to nursing school and worked in the practice of Doctors Durwood Hodges and Rayford Hodges.

She and Larrie moved to Huntsville for a better job while she ran the house, raised the children, sewed many of Lynn’s clothes, hosted an exercise class for neighborhood mothers, volunteered as a school nurse and became an accomplished artist in oils, all while being known as the best cook around. She excelled at everything she touched. She was proud of being Larrie’s wife and supported his coaching career from Scottsboro High School to Butler High School and, finally to Grissom High School when it was built. She attended all of the football games, hosted players for supper, coaches’ parties and became friends and a mentor to the other coaches’ wives. Odessa was a mother and friend to all: family, neighborhood children, football players and young coaches and their families.

When both children were in school, Odessa began working as a secretary for a construction company, then became and office manager for Doctors Plott, Boyer and Hull for many years. She left to work as a secretary for Bill Conner and Company, who built Willowbrook Village across from Grissom. While at Conner and Company, she studied and became a realtor, as well. She began working for the U.S. Army on Redstone Arsenal and soon signed up for the co-op program, where she worked and attended night classes at Alabama A&M University. Mom was determined to graduate no matter what obstacles she faced. She had one of her many back surgeries during this time and continued to negotiate the hills of A&M on crutches, always impeccably dressed in a business suit or dress and heels. She became friends with the Chief of the Campus Police and he was able to get her a pass to park closer to her class buildings, due to her health conditions. In May 1981, Mom graduated with her bachelor’s degree in accounting. She was Summa Cum Laude for her class and was given a standing ovation as she crossed the stage, as everyone knew how hard she’d worked.

In 1988, the Grissom football team selected Odessa as their football sweetheart, the same year her great-niece, Cheryl Bass, served as the Homecoming Queen. This act surprised her and touched her heart, and she proudly rode in the Homecoming parade around the stadium.

When Mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer, she was given 3 months to live. She told the doctor that only God could decide when she would pass, and she went on to prove that for another 42 years, until she was called home. Mom had many serious health problems through the years: among them kidney disease, various kinds of cancer and strokes. She never let anything stop her from doing what she wanted to accomplish. I recall the time she had a freshly broken foot (thanks to gravity’s effect on a frozen turkey) and still hosted the entire family for Thanksgiving. No matter how badly she hurt, she always dressed beautifully: makeup, lipstick, hair fixed, even if only to work in the yard. Many people never knew of the constant pain she suffered. She rarely complained and always had a beautiful smile on her face. Speaking of beautiful, Mom had the most gorgeous peaches and cream skin. Even at 87, she had very few wrinkles. She attributed it to regularly washing with Dove soap and using a good moisturizer. I think it was because she was such a beautiful person inside that it just shone on the outside as well.

In 1992, Odessa retired from her civil service job as an accountant after a car wreck left her unable to continue to work, at least in the opinion of her doctor. Of course, that didn’t stop her. She and Dad began a business, crafting baskets which they sold all over the country at craft shows and other events.

Odessa Eakin Robinson was preceded in death by her parents, John and Julia Eakin and her siblings: brothers Arlie, Floyd, Francis (“Mink”), twins Harvey and Harvest, and RC; and sisters Annie Mae, Beatrice (“Tiny”), Bonnie, Emma, Faye, Lila, and Nellie. She leaves her brother Terry (Dianne) Eakin, her beloved husband Larrie Robinson, children Robbie (Michele) Robinson and Lynn (Philip) Moore, grandchildren Logan Robinson, Haley Moore, and James Scalf; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews to cherish her memory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a hospice of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valhallafunerals.com for the Robinson family.