Carla Robinson

Carla Geraldine Robinson was born on December 5, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois, the second child to Andrew Goodwin Robinson and Edna Lucille Robinson Jackson. She spent her early pre-school days in the care of her grandparents Geraldine and Robert Algernon Livisay in Ironton, Ohio. Neither of her parents had siblings and as the baby of the family she was also the delight of her grandmother Annabell Robinson. Carla and her older sister Paula attended St. Thomas Apostle Elementary School, where Annabell met them every Sunday at St. Thomas Apostle Church for Mass, followed by their ritual breakfast at Walgreens in the Hyde Park Shopping Center. They both sang in the Children's Choir under the direction of Father Oldershaw and were cast regularly in the annual musical productions. Their mother divorced and remarried C. Roy Jackson. The family resided at 5412 South Woodlawn Ave. and were fortunate to walk to school, shopping centers, and parks all their grade school years. They enjoyed the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club afterschool program, Camp Martin Johnson and the Hyde Park YMCA's summer and winter camp. The sisters also, attended Kenwood High School where Carla graduated with the Class of 1977. While residing at 5000 South Cornell Ave. the family enjoyed a walkable neighborhood known as Indian Village and explored the Lakefront routinely. College life provided Carla with the opportunity to have a diverse set of experiences. She began her college tour at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee where she was inducted into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Carla's HBCU experience took her to Hampton University in Virginia. She returned to Chicago and attended the University of Illinois Chicago Campus but later transferred to Loyola University completing her degree in Computer Science. Carla continued to be a lifetime learner and was currently enrolled at Loyola University fulfilling final credits for a master’s degree. She remained in Hyde Park all her adult life living at the Shoreland, University Park, Renaissance Place and Ellington Place. Carla was successful in her field with employment, beginning as a program analyst with Sonicraft, Swithcraft and GNB Battery.Her professional career path took footing at RR Donnelley in 1997, where she was hired as an IT Developer. She worked at Donnelley for more than two decades in the Magazine Group, Y2K, Manufacturing (Application Team), Logistics and continued with LSC Communications, a divesture of the company in 2018. Like her college days, her Donnelley Family extends from Lisle, Wacker Drive, Willowbrook, Downers Grove, Bolingbrook and Warrenville. Carla was an avid photographer, regularly taking classes at the Hyde Park Art Center. Annually shooting the Bud Billiken Parade, The Chicago Marathon, Bike the Drive and The Hyde Park Jazz Festival. Carla's hobbies included woodworking and scouting antiques at flea markets for her collection of vintage cigar tins, Cream of Wheat advertising prints and cast metal pigs. She created handmade gifts of custom wood boxes and photographic calendars for holiday Christmas gifts. Carla was known for hosting "Soup's On" gatherings and football parties at her home. She was an all-weather Bears Fan and Tennessee Bourbon connoisseur. Carla enjoyed live jazz performances and traveling. She attended the anniversary of the March on Washington with the Rainbow Push Coalition, honoring the Robinson tradition. Carla made her unexpected transition on Sunday, November 10, 2019 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, due to an aggressive tissue infection that proved fatal. Carla leaves to cherish her sister, a host of relatives, extended family, and dear friends to mourn her passing.

Carla Robinson

December 5, 1959 - November 10, 2019