Earl Henry Robbins Sr.

Mr. Earl Henry Robbins Sr.  was the last surviving child born of the union between the late Rev Hamilton Alexander Robbins Sr and Blanche Shaw. Born October 20, 1925, in Wilmington NC, Earl was a graduate from Williston Industrial High School Class of '43 where he played sports. Earl married his high school sweetheart, Mary Davis, and from that union there are four children. 

Supported by his sister, he enrolled in Hampton Institute (now Hampton University). His education was briefly interrupted when he was drafted into the Navy during World War II. He returned to Hampton when his tour of duty was completed and graduated in 1949 from the School of Automotive Mechanics.

During the early 1950's he took the United States Postal exam and became one of three Black men hired early as Postal Clerks. Their job was sorting mail at that time by hand. On his application, he checked postal clerk and was informed he needed to change it from clerk to carrier because Blacks did not work in that position. He did not change it. By the 1960s, an opening for window clerk was posted and he applied and again became one of a few Black men working as a window clerk. He served the public faithfully for thirty years as a postal employee. His responsibilities as window clerk included selling money orders, stamps, and registering mail.

He was a hard worker who attended to his professional duties at work daily. He did not believe in taking sick time. This was evidenced by the fact that when he retired, he was recognized by his employer with a pin for the 1500 hours of sick time that he had accumulated during his work tenure. His work ethic proved to be a model that his children followed as they pursued their various professions.

Mr. Robbins was a faithful member of St. Paul AME Church where he served in various positions: Sunday School Teacher, Sons of Allen, Class Leader, Men's Chorus, Bread Ministry, Steward, Member of the Mass Choir, and past Treasurer of the Lay Organization

He is survived by his wife of 78 years, Mary Robbins (Davis), children Constance Clarke, Earl Jr. (Olivia), Karen Graham and Darrell Robbins. brothers in law Ernest Davis (Gladys), Harold Davis (Gladys) and grandchildren Dwaine Robbins, Darian Robbins (Syrita), Jabari Graham (Rashidah), Danielle Robbins-Chukwumah (Chidozie) great grandchildren, Jaden Franklin, Vianna Robbins, Amel Robbins, Chidozie Chukwumah and Olivia Chukwumah and a host of nieces, nephews, adopted children and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Society and the Smithsonian African American Museum in memory of Earl H. Robbins, Sr.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Earl Henry Robbins Sr., please visit our floral store.