Robbie Williams Townes
"Miss Robbie"
September 2, 1920 - January 23, 2005 Robbie Lee Townes was born Robbie Lee Williams on September 2, 1920 in Webster County Mississippi. She was the eldest of 13 children born to Lucy and Walter Williams.
During her early childhood, the family lived in Calhoun County for a short time and then moved to Grenada County where she grew up. When she was 12 years old, Robbie joined Pleasant Grove Church and was baptized. She was a faithful and dedicated member through her youth. On April 9, 1939 Robbie married Augustus "Gus" Townes, Sr. To this union seven children were born. Robbie and Gus moved to Missouri with their family in 1946. They joined Friendship Missionary Baptist Church of New Survey, Missouri where Robbie served as president of the Usher Board, was a Sunday School Teacher for 12 years, and church clerk for four years. Robbie and Gus moved to Hayti, Missouri in 1967 where they joined Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Robbie served on the Usher Board until illness in her family prevented her active duty. She was also a member of the Mothers Board and served as chairperson of the Helping Ministry. Later in life Robbie became a member of Eastern Star (Prince Hall) and Herion of Jericho (Blanch Hill). In addition to raising her children, Robbie also worked on the farm to help provide for the family. Later in life, she earned her General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and pursued college coursework in psychology, adult vocational education, and vocational guidance. She received numerous academic and merit awards in recognition of her hard work. Eventually, Robbie became a Certified Nurse's Aid (CNA). Over the years she held several jobs including school cafeteria worker with Steele Elementary School, youth club supervisor with Delmo Housing Corporation, supportive service worker with the Missouri Social Migrant Opportunity Service, CNA with Pemiscot Memorial Hospital, paralegal assistant with MDEM, store supervisor with HACE Co-op, office assistant and in-home service worker with the Tri-County Human Development Corporation, and W.I.C. program aid worker with Pemiscot County Health Care. Service to the community was an important aspect of Robbie's life. She served on several boards and committees for various organizations including Bootheel Agricultural Services, Inc.; Federation of Southern Cooperatives; City of Hayti Bi-Racial Committee; Missouri Delta Ecumenical Ministry; Bootheel Credit Union; and Ward I New Edition. Robbie received numerous honors for educational achievement and service to the community. These included certificates of achievement from the Missouri Department of Education; honors from the state of Missouri for first aid, home nursing, and teaching adult basic education. She was also awarded an honorary lifetime membership in the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. Siblings
Parents
Lucy Willis Williams
Walter Williams Grandparents
Children
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Augustus Townes, Sr.
"Gus"
March 28, 1900 - December 19, 1991 Augustus Townes, Sr. was the grandson of slaves. Gus, as he was affectionately known to family and friends, was born on March 28, 1900 in Hardy, Mississippi. He was the fifth of six children born to Mary and John Townes. Mary passed away while the children were young. John would later marry Esther and would have five more children with her.
Not much is known about Gus' early life. He grew up in Grenada County, Mississippi and received no more than a fifth grade education. His father, John "Johney" Townes, was a farm worker and his mother, Mary Clay Townes, performed domestic house work in the homes of white farmers. Before his union with Robbie Williams, Gus married Theota Wilson on July 4, 1924. They had one child together, a daughter named Grace Odessa Townes. Theota passed away on September 24, 1938. Gus married Robbie Lee Williams on April 9, 1939. They purchased property in Mississippi in 1941. The couple intended to live and raise their children there. However, they were forced off of their property by the United States Army. Subsequently, Gus and Robbie relocated to Missouri in 1946. Because of this experience, they would later instill the value of property ownership to their children. Despite his lack of formal education, Gus became a fluent reader and interpreter of the Christian Bible. Both he and Robbie were religiously devout. Everywhere he lived from March 1938 through June 1967, Gus served as Superintendent of Sunday Schools. He was also an ordained deacon in the Baptist church for many years. He assisted with the baptism of many of the youth members of Friendship Missionary Baptist (M.B.) Church, most of whom were baptized in the #9 ditch. He faithfully served Friendship M.B. Church of New Survey, Missouri from May 1947 until June 1967 when he joined Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Hayti, Missouri. Gus was a strong believer in the power of prayer. He prayed every Sunday morning with his entire family around the table often for people the family didn't know and would never know and was known for asking God to "bless the prison and the prison bound." He loved singing the old Dr. Watts' hymns, his favorite being "I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cry." Gus worked as a sharecropper to support his family. Even though his formal education was limited, he developed excellent math skills. He always kept a ledger of his earnings and debts in a small spiral notebook and was one of the few black sharecroppers who could not be cheated. Baseball was a passion for Gus. As a young man, he played on a "Negro" baseball team in Grenada, Mississippi. Later, he would teach his children, boys and girls alike, as well as children throughout the area how to play the game. Although he was "uneducated," Gus believed strongly in the value of education. He encouraged his children to be lifelong learners. One of his most memorable sayings was "a strong back and a weak mind will get you nowhere." He fervently believed that what goes around comes back around. He always reminded his children not to burn bridges because "the same bridge that brought you across will take you back." Siblings
(Children of Mary Clay Townes)
(Children of Esther Townes)
Parents
Mary Clay Townes
Esther Townes (step-mother) John Townes Grandparents
Maternal:
Mollie Clay Frank Clay Children
(With Theota Wilson Townes)
Grace Odessa Townes Oatis
(With Robbie L. Williams Townes)
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