Josie Mae Willard Robinson

Mrs. Josie "Jo" Mae Willard Robinson, 83, of Mount Airy, passed away Tuesday, December 30, 2008, at Northern Hospital of Surry County. Mrs. Robinson was born January 17, 1925, in Carroll County, VA, to the late General Meigs Willard and Cora Lee Westmoreland Willard. "Jo" was a loving and devoted wife. She so proudly accompanied her husband, Donald K. Robinson, while he served our country in the United States Army throughout the United States and Germany. While in Germany, Mrs. Robinson worked in a book store. Mrs. Robinson was employed with Spencer's Inc. for a number of years and later was an assistant to Dr. John Hodge for 12 years. She was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church, where she served as secretary and treasurer for a number of years. "Jo" served as a "second mother" for a number of her nieces and nephews, but was most known for her love and dedication to her brothers and sisters. She touched a number of lives and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Surviving are three sisters, Emma Juanita Bowman, Maude Anna Morris and husband, Howard, and Lettie Lee Thomas, all of Mount Airy; a brother, Billy Jay Willard of Mount Airy; a brother-in-law, Dan Robinson and wife, Helen, of Galax, VA; two sisters-in-law, Doris Stein of Mount Airy and Daisy Lawson of Pinnacle; twenty-nine nieces and nephews; and thirty-one great nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Robinson was preceded in death by a sister, Hester Kathleen Willard McCreary; and three brothers, Dewey Odell Willard, Roy Monroe Willard, and Troy Franklin Willard. The funeral service will be held Friday, January 2, 2009, at 11:00 AM at Epworth United Methodist Church. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Steve Rainey and the Rev. Dennis W. "Bud" Cameron, and burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday night from 6:00 to 8:00 at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy.