Forrest Dean Robinson, Sr.

Forrest Dean Robinson, Sr.

MARCH 17, 1940 ~ NOVEMBER 10, 2018 (AGE 78)

Forrest Dean Robinson, Sr. was born to the late Mr. Homer, Sr. and Mrs. Alberta (Wilks) Robinson on March 17, 1940. Forrest was the youngest of five children, all of which preceded him in death.

His funeral service was held on Saturday November 17, 2018 at 1:00 pm at Greater Springfield MBC with pastor Robert Parham in charge.  Burial will be in the Bolivar Community Cemetery with Dixie Funeral Home www.dixiefuneralhome.com in charge of the professional service.  

He attended Bolivar Industrial Elementary School and spent his high school years at Allen-White in Whiteville, Tennessee.  He became a member of Greater Springfield M. B. Church during his early teens.        
 
Often he sought to spend quality time with his maternal grandfather, “Papa Morgan” Wilks, after the death of his father and stepfather, Mr. Alvin Bradford. Nothing could take the place of the lessons he learned from Papa Morgan about life and hard work. 
 
Reaching for better things in life, Forrest took the Building and Trade class under Mr. Earl Anderson, and acquired the skills to build almost anything. While in high school, he gained real work experiences as a part time employee at Eastside Market in Bolivar under the ownership of Mr. Jere Miller.  As a young adult, his work experiences advanced through a number of other jobs such as driving taxi for Peoples Cab (owned by His god father, the late John Archie Williams), working at The Bolivar Gin, driving a school bus for the Hardeman County School System, and rendering janitorial services at Bolivar Industrial Elementary School.          
 
Reassuring the care of his aging Mother until her death and providing for a growing family, his willingness to work opened up avenues never before treaded by African American males in Hardeman County.  He became one of the first black deputy sheriffs of Hardeman County and the first black manager of a local grocery establishment (Creekmore’s Food Center).  He held this managerial position for over 30 years and retired after the store underwent new management.     
 
Entering parenthood at an early age, he fathered one daughter (Teresa Young). Later he united in holy matrimony to Sally Frances Marshall on February 7, 1965.  To this union three children were born, Nikita Lorraine, Mia Faith and Forrest Dean, Jr.  
 
Serving as a member of Greater Springfield, he sang in the male chorus, drove the church van when needed, became a junior deacon under Pastor Harold Middlebrook, and treasurer of the mission fund.     
 
The precious memories of his life and legacy will be treasured by his wife Sally; three daughters Teresa Young, Denver, CO; Nikita (William) Starnes, Nashville, TN; and Mia Pointer, Madison, TN, one son Forrest Jr., Bolivar, TN; three grandchildren, Jerilyn Bass and Johnnie Young, Jr., both of Denver, CO, and Nakia Robinson, Bolivar, TN. His memory will also live on in the hearts of his loving god mother Mrs. Shirley Williams, one god son, Leon (Virginia) McNeal, two sister-in-laws, Betty Meadows, Woodruff, SC and Naomi Washington, Nashville, TN, one brother-in-law, John (Shirley) Wylie, Nashville, TN, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and his church family.  
 

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