Charles “Tough” Robinson was born to Bessie M. Martin and Charles Thomas Robinson on November 22, 1926 in San Diego, California.
After graduating from San Diego High School in 1945, Charles served in the United States Army. In 1947, on his 21st birthday, he married Edna B. Terry. Charles and Edna raised two beautiful daughters named Lori and Leah.
The vaunted Robinson garden of SouthEast San Diego was cultivated by Charles after retiring from his thirty year career with the City of San Diego Fire Department as a Captain Deputy Fire Marshal in 1980.
Charles was a fearless disciple of God. He had a devout spirituality and unwavering faith as a member of the San Diego 31st Street Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He was baptized confidently in May of 1963 by Pastor E.C. Ward and Associate Pastor David Taylor. Although Charles served the City of San Diego for thirty faithful years, with a fire department he helped to integrate, his primary calling was giving and surrendering his life to God.
Charles found beauty, divinity, and solace in plants, which became his greatest passion and past time. He held a wealth of knowledge and knew every botanical name for plants. He was the first African American accepted into, and to graduate from, the Master Gardener program at the University of California Agricultural Division of San Diego, California. Fine Gardening Magazine featured him in the article, “Harvesting Pleasure,” and San Diego Home and Garden wrote about him in an article entitled, “The Expert and His Eden.”
Caring for the community’s children extended beyond the leaves of his garden. He volunteered on field trips with Keiler Middle School, Sojourner Truth Academy, and San Diego Academy. Charles also gave of his time to tutor at the Health & Learning Center, tutoring Spanish speakers in English at 31st Street Church, and tutoring young readers at Knox Elementary School.
As a family man he was our gentle, quiet, and strong leader. You could find him sitting in his favorite spot on the couch at family get-togethers, watching sports or reading. Rows of his fresh baked sweet potato pies and cookies lined the counter top and table during these family times. With a look, smile, or nod of his head, you knew he was happy to see you and you were welcome.
On August 7, 2020, Charles T. Robinson entered into eternal rest. He was preceded in death by daughter Lori. Left to cherish his legacy are wife, Edna Robinson; daughter Leah Robinson; great-granddaughter Ahmaya Robinson; sister Corinne T. Johnson, brother-in-law Allen Terry; nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives, friends, and loved ones.
The San Diego community is mourning one of the last great African American native pioneers. Lessons from a great man and citizen, learned from biblical teachings and gardening, will be greatly missed.
