Mrs. Patsye Brent Robinson

Patsye, a native of Staunton, Virginia, was born Sunday, March 25, 1945, the seventh of ten children of the late James Albert Brent and the late Susie Elizabeth Kinney Brent. Although born in Staunton, she spent her childhood (from the age of five to twelve) with her Uncle Bernard in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was predicted that she would never live to be ten years old due to kidney disease. The climate change and her faith in God were her only chances of survival. By twelve years of age, she had defied the odds and returned to Staunton to be with her parents. There, she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School…a member of the National Honor Society for two years, third place winner in the STATE Math and Science Competition, and winner of the Good Citizenship Award sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1962, she married her high school sweetheart, James N. "Jimmy" Robinson, who preceded her in death. Their union of over fifty-three years was blessed with four children. She began her career at Mary Baldwin College as a switchboard operator and enrolled at Blue Ridge Community College and James Madison University, local business colleges. Upon completion of her studies there, she landed a secretarial position with Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Additional studies allowed her to secure positions with the Commonwealth of Virginia, General Electric Corporation and DuPont de Nemours as a Quality Leadership Trainer. Upon relocating to Pennsylvania with her husband Jimmy, she found employment with Penn State University, Harrisburg Area Community College and retired from Hershey Foods after fifteen years. For three years, she served as the Executive Assistant and Administrative Officer to the Secretary of Health, Commonwealth of PA. Refusing to slow down, Patsye returned to Penn State as a Human Resource Assistant and separated from them when kidney failure again returned. Her life’s focus was and continued to be in her service to God, her family and community. She served as church clerk while in Staunton for twenty-five years, sang in the choir for over thirty years, served as Director of the five-church, city-wide Vacation Bible School effort for five years, taught Sunday School for ten years, directed the Drama Ministry for twelve years, spearheaded the effort to save a local Black park (now a historical location), served on a number of civic boards and directed the Youth Choir for two years. Upon moving to Middletown, PA, she became an active member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church where she continued to sing on the choir, serve as Director of the Drama Ministry, serve as a member of the Trustee Ministry for ten years and as Chairperson for two years. And that kidney ailment…well God sent her a transplant…To God be the Glory!!! Early on the morning of Sunday, January 8, 2017, Patsye entered into eternal rest as her heart yearned to reunite with her beloved “Jimmy.” She leaves to remember, cherish and honor her legacy of faith, love and determination her four children, James “Jay” Robinson Jr. of Middletown, PA, Towanda Stallings of Middletown, Jaconda Lightburn of Charleston, SC, Alice Robinson Penn of Harrisburg, PA; and one godchild, Darrell (Tina) Robinson of Atlanta, GA. She will also be lovingly remembered by her eleven grandchildren, Steven Penn, Janeese Robinson, Jatia (Rashaun) Garris, Joshua Lightburn, Jaelyn Lightburn, Oshea Penn, Jayda Robinson, Gary Penn, James Robinson III, Dominique Morton and Ayana Penn; her adopted children, Kenny Ross, Tony Levine, Clarence and Sonya Stokes (Myrakle and Trinitee), Terry and Sharmaine George (Tenay, Shanay, Breshay); five great-grandchildren, Jaevion, Onajae, Tayler, Michael and Elizabeth. She also leaves her beloved brother and sisters, Wayman (Betty) Brent of Virginia Beach, VA, Betty (Claude) Jones of Claremont, FL, Daisy Brent Manning of Queens, NY, Susie Brent King of Staunton, VA, and Corrinne Brent of Wendell, NC; her sisters-in-law, Bernice Stuart (Joseph), Austin Gray and Sarah Frances Robinson; as well as a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and special mention to the matriarch of the Brent’s, Agnes Berry. Giving God all Glory, Honor and Praise, The Family

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Mrs. Patsye Brent Robinson

March 25, 1945 - January 8, 2017