A Good Friend to Beaufort Falls
Betsey Robinson was A Very Strong yet Gentle Woman
I am very saddened by our loss of Betsey Robinson, a friend to those who knew her and to those who never had the opportunity to know her.
I was fortunate to have had a special friendship with Betsey (and of course her partner Bill). During my tenure in the SC House of Representatives, up and down the road with me to Columbia for two years. She had a mission she pursued with tenacity, patience and passion and I was glad she gave me the opportunity to do my little part to help her move it forward.
After losing her son to a gun accident, Betsey was determined to make sure that other families would never suffer like hers when they lost a minor,who was the victim of a gun that had not been stored safely.
While I feel a little awkward writing about this tragedy upon her passing, this small part of her life demonstrated her love for her son, her family and even more importantly her love for the many young people who fall unnecessarily because guns are not stored safely and often get into the hands of minors.
Week after week, Betsey knocked on legislators' doors asking them to support a measure that would have required guns to be stored safely. She never advocated gun control, rather she passionately pushed for gun safety and the accountability of adults to store firearms out of the reach of children.
Betsey never challenged the right to own guns. But she felt passionately that with that right comes a personal and community responsibility.
For this women of brave tenacity, it was a trying challenge. Doors were shut in her face by legislators who did not want to hear her story. But that did not stop her because she was seeking what was right and something she knew because it was so close to her heart..
On Thursday evenings when we returned to Beaufort she shared her frustration that some would not even listen to her. But, by the next Tuesday, when we returned to Columbia for the week's legislative session Betsey was enthusiastic, hopeful and ready to go back to work.
In the end we were not able to pass the legislation, but many people learned about gun safety and I would like to think that through her tireless advocacy some children have been saved.
Betsey made other often larger than human contributions to our special hometown, some of which are outlined in the following obituary.
Betsey will always have a place in my heart and my head for her brave fight to save children. Thank you Betsey!
The following obituary is extracted from the Packet/Gazette and can be found on line should you care to share the story of this wonderful community spirited woman who will be deeply missed.
Elizabeth Reynolds Robinson
Elizabeth "Betsey" Reynolds Robinson Elizabeth "Betsey" Reynolds Robinson, wife of William "Bill" Robinson passed away surrounded by family in her home Sunday, March 29, 2015.
Betsey was born in Charleston, SC on August 19, 1945, the daughter of Dr. Thomas Willard Reynolds and Lola Anderson Reynolds. She enjoyed a wonderful childhood in Charleston. She graduated from Bishop England High School in 1963 and Winthrop College with a degree in English and Communication in 1967.
Betsey married Bill on February 3, 1968. Betsey and Bill had 4 children, Clark, Carrie, Reyne' and Reynolds. They moved to Beaufort in May of 1973.
She volunteered as the financial assistant to the pastor of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Beaufort and directed the Bazaar for several years... She was instrumental as a volunteer for the St. Peter's Capital Campaign to raise funds for its new sanctuary and campus on Lady's Island. In 1995, she co-directed the events celebrating the 150th anniversary of the St. Peter's Parish and was named Catholic Woman of the Year .From 1997 - 2005 she was the communications director for St. Peters and started the Church's first quarterly newsletter. She was a lecturer at St Peter's on Sunday mornings throughout the years.
Betsey was awarded the Caritas award in 2008 for her service and stewardship to the church. She was the American Heart Association Representative in Beaufort for many years. In the 70s and 80s she taught middle school English and Drama at Beaufort Academy and was the yearbook advisor. Betsey taught English at the Technical College of the Lowcountry in the late 80s. In 1980, Betsey served on the first Board of Directors for Friends of Caroline Hospice and then as a volunteer and Board member over the last 35 years.
In 1989, her son Reynolds was tragically shot and killed at the age of 13. In the following years, Betsey devoted herself to Gun Responsibility in Every Family (GRIEF) and to lobbying the SC legislature to pass a gun responsibility law. Ultimately, the law did not pass, but she succeeded in raising awareness throughout the state with regards to gun safety in the home. One of her great joys was reading books and reading to children in particular, which she did throughout her life. Betsey was a long-standing member of the Ladies Unlimited Investment Club, enjoyed playing bridge with friends, traveling with Bill, and spending time with her children's families.
Betsey was predeceased by her brother Thomas Willard Reynolds, sister Sarah Reynolds Fosberry and son Thomas Reynolds Robinson. Betsey is survived by her husband William Clark Robinson, sister Katherine Reynolds Manning of Summerville SC; son, William Clark Robinson, Jr. (Carol) of Lady's Island, SC; daughter, Caroline Robinson Horne (Richard) of Mt. Pleasant, SC; and daughter Elizabeth Robinson Gallup (Jim) of Evans, GA. Betsey will also be missed by her 12 grandchildren Reynolds Clark Robinson, Caroline Grace Robinson, Olivia Porcher Horne, SarahAnne Sullivan Horne, Laura Elizabeth Horne, Paul Sheppard Kelton, Matthew Thomas Kelton, Elizabeth McKeown Kelton, Anderson Reynolds Gallup. John Tyler Gallup, William Bryson Gallup and Thomas Nolan Gallup.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to the T. Reynolds Robinson Scholarship at Beaufort Academy, 70 Sams Point Rd, Lady's Island, SC 29907.
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