Hazel Medford Robinson

Hazel Medford Robinson, 94, of Candler, died Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at Pisgah Manor Nursing Center. Mrs. Robinson was born in Haywood County but lived most of her life in Buncombe County. She was a daughter of the late Elmer William and Lang Howell Medford and was a 1927 graduate of Candler High School. She was married to Floyd Burgin Robinson, a well known builder, who died in 1974. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, William Howell Medford and Hubert Elmer Medford, both of Pisgah Forest, NC, and three sisters, Crystal Morgan, Lucille Clontz and Blanche Morgan, all of Candler. She attended Western Carolina University and graduated from the Asheville Normal and Teacher’s College where she received a B.S. Degree in Grammar Grade Education. She taught for 44 years in the Buncombe County School System, 22 years at Glady Elementary School (principal for 12 years) and then for 22 years at Candler Elementary School. She also taught in several summer sessions at Western Carolina University where she served in the Demonstration School. She also served for two years as language arts and math instructor at Asheville/Buncombe Tech. While at Candler School she trained several outstanding student teachers from WCU and served two terms as president of Buncombe County Classroom Teachers’ Organization. She also served eight years as president of the Buncombe County Parent Teachers’ Council where she was presented a life membership. She was a member of the N.C. Retired Teachers’ Association and a member of the National Retired Teachers’ Association. At the time of her death she was an active member of the Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary sorority for outstanding women educators. Mrs. Robinson was a member of White Rock Baptist Church where she served for many years as Sunday School Teacher, WMU Director, Training Union Director and for twelve years as Bible School Director. Surviving are one son, James E. “Jim” Robinson and his wife Ruth Moore Robinson of Pisgah Forest and two grandsons, James Michael “Mike” and his wife Carolyn Smith Robinson and Joseph Timothy “Tim” Robinson, all of Pisgah Forest; two great- grandchildren, Krystal Amanda “Kristi” Gonce of Dana, NC and Russell Burgin Robinson of Pisgah Forest; one great-great-granddaughter Faith Madison Gonce; a sister-in-law Katherine Medford of Pisgah Forest, five nieces and two nephews. Funeral services will be at 3:00 p.m. Saturday at White Rock Baptist Church with the Revs. Greg Metcalf and Allen Rash officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Her family will receive friends from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Friday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue. The family wishes to thank Hospice and Pisgah Manor for their loving support and care. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813 or to White Rock Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o 91 Medford Branch Road, Candler, NC 28715.