Mary Neale Robbins' Obituary
Mary Neale Robbins passed away on July 16, 2025, at the age of 89. For over half a century, she made her home on the tranquil banks of Merritt’s Mill Pond, in the house she and her husband built together—a place she cherished deeply.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, American author Russell Glenn Neale and Loula May Barker Neale. She is survived by her husband, Jerome Douglas Robbins; daughter Laura Robbins Schell and husband Lloyd; son Russell Neale Robbins; grandson Adrian Schell and wife Katherine; great-grandson Silas Schell; sister Emily Neale McConathy and husband Phil; sister-in-law Evelyn Robbins Pierson; brothers-in-law Marvin Robbins and Wayne Robbins; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mary was born on June 2, 1936, in Floral Park, Long Island, New York. In 1942, her family relocated to Greenville, North Carolina. They soon moved to Carolina Beach in New Hanover County, NC. Mary graduated from high school in Wilmington in 1954 and returned there to teach after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Library Science from East Carolina College in 1957.
From 1958 to 1962, Mary’s career then carried her across continents. She served as a librarian for U.S. Air Force military dependents schools at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina; Itazuki, Japan; RAF Sculthorpe, England; and Hahn Air Base, Germany. In 1962, she returned to the United States and became engaged to Jerome Douglas “Doug” Robbins, whom she had dated while working in Japan. Doug was living in Pensacola, Florida, and Mary joined him there after accepting a position as Director of the Central Library Processing Lab for Escambia County Public Schools.
Mary and Doug were married on November 24, 1962, at First Baptist Church of Gulf Breeze, Florida. They initially settled on Pensacola Beach before moving to Tallahassee in 1965 to pursue graduate studies at Florida State University. Both earned Master of Science degrees before relocating to Marianna in 1968, when Doug accepted a teaching position at Chipola Junior College. Mary took a sabbatical from her career for the next few years to raise her children.
From 1973 to 1976, Mary worked as the school librarian at Sunland Center Marianna, where she developed an innovative program for people with disabilities that garnered national attention. She later served as an elementary school media specialist for the Dothan City School System and while working in three local schools helped establish a new K–8 library program. In 1988, she became the K–12 media specialist at Altha Public School in Calhoun County, Florida. There, she played a pivotal role in launching a television production program and secured a $130,000 grant to retrofit the school with the necessary technology. When Mary retired in 1998, she had dedicated over 33 years to education.
Mary had a deep passion for history and genealogy, particularly her Scottish, Irish, English, German, and French heritage. A third-generation member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), she served as Regent of the Chipola Chapter and led numerous award-winning projects. These included a video on antique quilts and the publication of Recipes from Historic Jackson County, which included pictures and historical information from the seven counties that were included in the original Jackson County. Her Constitution Day program in 2002 earned first place nationally. In recognition of her contributions, she was named “Honorary Regent for Life” by her chapter in 2003. She also held leadership roles at the state level within DAR, serving as Public Relations Chairman, a member of both the Credentials and By-laws Committees, and president of the Florida Panhandle Regents Council.
Mary’s dream of founding a local Children of the American Revolution (CAR) society came true in 2003 with the organization of the Blue Springs Society, N.S.C.A.R., where she served as Senior President and held multiple senior state officer roles. Under her guidance, the society received numerous accolades including seven “Best in State” trophies and two “Most Outstanding State Society” awards. She was named “Honorary Senior President for Life” in 2014. She took pride in supporting her grandson Adrian Schell’s project during his term as Florida Society Children of the American Revolution State President, which funded the first permanent exhibit at the new Apalachicola Arsenal Museum in Chattahoochee, Florida in 2017.
A charter member of Friends of the Jackson County Public Library, she held many offices and served on its board. Mary played a key role in establishing the county’s library system, with the first permanent library building in Marianna dedicated as their bicentennial project in 1976. She was also active in the Chipola Historical Trust and contributed many newspaper articles that were later compiled into their 2013-2014 published volumes.
Mary served on the original Executive Committee of the Jackson County Republican Party and helped Doug with organizing the party in the county. She supported her husband’s creative endeavors as well… editing his first cookbook published in 2002 and assisting with extensive research and editing for his new novel The Peddler recently published on Amazon. It is a love story set in the Florida Panhandle of 1910-1912, and history buffs will recognize the Marianna and DeFuniak Springs of the period. It is in memory of Sallie White Bailey, Doug's maternal grandmother.
Mary loved waterscapes, both beaches and lakes. This led her to participate in many environmental groups such as the Ocean Conservancy, Blue Springs Working Group, and Life on Merritt’s Mill Pond. Her request to name her street Limestone Lane even inspired internationally renowned cave rescue diver Edd Sorenson to relocate to Marianna.
A devoted member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Marianna, Mary served as church archivist and produced in-depth historical research on the church and its graveyard. She ensured that American flags could be placed on all the veterans’ graves during holidays by installing stationary flag holders in the church cemetery. She created many historical presentations that combined her love of history with her commitment to education. These included original plays and skits such as Betsy and the Great Debate and “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” presenting many historical topics to the public. She also authored the Jewels of Light tour book showcasing St. Luke’s stained-glass windows and coordinated the well-attended “Spirits of St. Luke’s” ghost tour.
Mary Neale Robbins leaves behind a legacy marked by education, historical preservation, civic service, and unwavering dedication to her community. She helped shape Jackson County, as it is today.
A memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on August 30th at 2 p.m. CT. The family will receive guests in the church parish hall immediately following the committal service at St. Luke’s Memorial Garden Columbarium. Additional parking is located across the street. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 4362 Lafayette St., Marianna, FL 32446 or donations may be made in her honor to any of the other many organizations Mary supported.
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