By Staff
Robinson enjoys witnessing through song
By Stacie Spencer
(This week The Atmore Advance spotlights 80-year-old James Buffus Robinson. Robinson enjoys visiting residents of the nursing home.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Escambia County on Feb. 14, 1928.
Q: Who were your parents?
A: My parents were Jannie Robinson Taylor and the Rev. Willie Williams.
Q: What did your parents do for a living?
A: My mother was a seamstress and my father was a reverend and worked in factories in Michigan and Ohio making leather items like purses and wallets.
Q: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A: I have one sister, Mildred Taylor.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I went to elementary and middle school in Escambia County and graduated from the Escambia County Training School on May 27, 1948. There were 28 people in my graduating class. I went to college at Alabama State University in 1954 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a minor in history. In 1956, I graduated with a master’s degree in elementary education.
Q: Do you do a lot of traveling?
A: I did when I was in the military. I was stationed in Missouri, Virginia and Korea. I was drafted and was sent to what was called the Korean Conflict. They said more people died during the Conflict than in WWII. Now I like to go to the crusades.
Q: Where did you work?
A: In the Army, I worked teaching troop information, like how to wear your suit correctly and how to salute an officer. In Korea, I worked as a mail clerk. After I earned my master’s degree, I wrote letters to 33 different states trying to get a teaching job. The Holy Ghost told me that the 33rd state that I wrote to would hire me and that’s what happened. I moved to Sarasota, Fla., and worked as a teacher there for 20 years.
Q: Where have you lived?
A: Sarasota, Fla., Montgomery, Korea and Atmore.
Q: What do you like most about Atmore?
A: It’s quiet, peaceful and the relations are good. I like to visit the nursing home and give them scriptures about healing, witness to them, give them Bibles and sing to them.
Q: Did you ever marry?
A: I married one time to Annie Lee Pace Robinson and she passed away more than 20 years ago.
Q: What advice can you give married couples for them to have a long, healthy marriage like you did?
A: Be a born again Christian and that way you will have agape love, show your wife you love her everyday and you have to trust God and love God together. Always keep him at the top of your list.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have four children. The oldest are twins, Brigette Robinson and Frizzette Robinson, my son, Konstantinu Robinson and my youngest daughter is Zsa Zsa Robinson.
Q: Where do you attend church?
A: Mt. Gilead Baptist Church. I like it very much because you can grow there. I taught a Bible class for five years on Monday nights and sometimes I make speeches on Men’s Day.
Q: What keeps you busy these days?
A: Studying the Word of God daily and putting it into practice, reading a lot and singing a lot. I have my own devotion time everyday where I read my Bible and sing.
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: “Joyce Meyers,” “Creflo Dollar” and those quiz shows like “Deal or No Deal.”
Q: What advice would you like to give people on staying healthy?
A: Pray and ask God to keep you healthy, exercise daily, eat a balanced diet and praise God daily and He’ll keep you from getting depressed.
(If you would like to recommend a senior to be spotlighted please contact the Atmore Advance at 368-2123 or e-mail us at newsroom@atmoreadvance. com)