Mrs. Gladys Marie Odom Robinson

****A MEMORIAL SERVICE IN LOVING MEMORY FOR GLADYS MARIE ODOM ROBINSON WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2022 AT OUR FUNERAL HOME, ****NOTE: PLEASE SEE VISITATION & SERVICE TIMES HELD ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 2022 ONLY. VISITATION AND SERVICE TIMES ARE LISTED BELOW**** ****PLEASE NOTE THE FAMILY IS REQUESTING THAT MASKS ARE WORN AND WE WILL PROVIDE HAND SANITIZER WHEN ENTERING OUR BUILDING. If you have any questions, please contact us at: (269) 342-1000 ____________________________________________________ The Obituary Gladys Marie Odom Robinson was born July 24th, 1933 to Reverend Major Worth Odom and Frances Willa Odom in Gilmer, Texas. She was the third female child born of 9 siblings. Gladys was preceded in death by both of her parents Major and Frances with along and 3 sisters and 5 brothers. Gladys had two older half-brothers from a prior marriage on her father's side. Her siblings who preceded her in death were as follows: Major Hill Jr. and Clifford Hill, both of whom Gladys met much later in life after they were all grown up. From her parent's union, other siblings who preceded her in death were Marjorie Sanders, Kathryn Noiles, John Odom, Theodore Odom, Helen Robinson, another brother with the same name as her father, Major. So,Gladys had two brothers named Major, Jr. Her only living sibling is Beverly Morris of Chicago Illinois. Gladys attended Phillips High School in Chicago and also attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Kalamazoo Michigan, where she studied Photography. Gladys married Ernest Goodwin and from that union were born Toni, Ernest, John, Carla, Sandra and Marjorie Renee Goodwin. From a second union with Robert Lindsay, were born Kenneth, Lorraine, Gregory and Cory Lindsay. Gladys later married again to Alfred Robinson and became step- mother to Alfred Robinson Jr. Three of Gladys' children also preceded her in death, John, who died shortly after birth, Ernest, and Sandra Goodwin as well as her husband of 44 years, Alfred Robinson. Gladys loved her children very much. She taught them good morals, good work ethics and made them attend church. She taught her daughters to cook, to can, to sew and she herself loved knitting rug latch hooking, embroidery and crocheting as well as other crafts throughout her life. In addition, she taught her children culture, good manners and stressed the importance of education. Gladys was an avid reader and had a great love for books. Gladys loved traveling. She traveled all over the United States and visited South Africa for two full months for Mission work. She traveled on occasion for her job at MESC. Gladys worked various jobs, but she worked the longest at Michigan Employment Security Commission for over 20 years where she finally retired. Gladys became a Minister in the late 1980's and was ordained by the late Pastor Robert Buchanan Jr. at the Good News Deliverance Center located in Comstock Michigan. She was a well-respected member and often preached there. She was a faithful volunteer for Forgotten Man Ministries of Kalamazoo for a few years where she encouraged many young women in The Lord and brought them to Christ. At the jail, she was known as “mama”. Gladys also worked as a volunteer for a half-way house ministering to inmates just coming out of jail in Kalamazoo Michigan. Later in life after she retired, she volunteered as a receptionist at the Ecumenical Center and for a while taught a ceramics class there. Gladys at times, could be quite frank and stern, but she did know how to make people fel loved as well. She had two best friends that she fellow-shipped with quite often and who also preceded her in death: Lois Key of Kalamazoo Michigan and Zenobia Williams of South Haven Michigan. Gladys leaves behind 8 children: Toni Parker of Kalamazoo Michigan, Carla Norman of Ajijic Mexico, Marjorie Renee Goodwin of Kalamazoo Michigan, Kenneth Lindsay of Macon Georgia, Alfred Robinson Jr. of Kankakee Illinois., Lorraine Braxton of Memphis Tennessee, Gregory Lindsay of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Cory Lindsay of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 28 grandchildren, 49 great grandchildren, and 9 great, great-grandchildren. Gladys went to sleep on September 27th, 2022, at 12:15 p.m., never to wake again on this side of eternity and left a legacy that will not be quickly forgotten. Let us celebrate a life well lived by Gladys Marie Robinson.

Mrs. Gladys Marie Odom Robinson

July 24, 1933 - September 28, 2022