Jackie Robinson Gouge
July 27, 1942 ~ September 26, 2017
Resided in:
Huntsville, Alabama
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Mary Jacqueline “Jackie” Sechrist Robinson Gouge went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 26, 2017.
Jackie was born on July 27, 1942 in Winston Salem, NC and was a graduate of both R.J. Reynolds High School and Mars Hill College. Not long after college graduation, Jackie returned to Asheville and was hired at Asheville Country Day School, now Carolina Day School, where she worked until her retirement last summer.
During those record 50 years at Carolina Day School, Jackie, better known as “Mama Gouge,” wore many hats and touched the lives of countless young people and their families. Jackie loved her work and her Carolina Day School family, and they loved her deeply in return.
Jackie is survived by her son, David Robinson and his wife Melanie, and their two children, Jordan and Noah. She is also survived by her three sisters, Margaret (Butch) Warren, Elaine Brown, and Donna Holder, as well as many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Service was held at 11:30 AM on Saturday, September 30, 2017 in the Chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian and Jackie was interred at Grassy Branch Baptist Church Cemetery.
On Saturday, October 14, Carolina Day School will host a Celebration of the Life of Jackie in the Alumni (Lower) Gym from 10:30 -11:30 AM. All family, friends, alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff are invited.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, Jackie and her family have respectfully expressed that contributions to Carolina Day School in Jackie's honor would be appreciated. Those may be made to Carolina Day School in general or designated to support the Jackie Gouge Award fund, which will help students with demonstrated financial need attend CDS.
David, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. I will always remember Mama Gouge fondly. She definitely impacted the lives of many.
Jackie will be missed!! I graduated from ACDS in 1982 and remember her well. I’ve had the privilege of crossing paths through the years and she always remembers!!! Prayers of peace and comfort to all her family and friends!
Sorry to hear about Jackie. She was so dear to so many, at work, at church, and in the lives of many. She will be missed by many and remembered by all. Hard to find someone who affects so many lives. I loved working with Jackie. Loved to hear about the gifts and all the weddings she went to. Don’t think she missed any, unless there wS two in the same day at the same time. David prayers to you and Melanie. I know your boys will miss her too
David, I have so many wonderful memories of you and your mom! She was the first person to visit me in my classroom the first day I worked at Asheville Country Day, and she immediately put me at ease and convinced me that I had accepted a position at the best school in the area!! I thoroughly enjoyed working on the same campus with her for ten years, during which we stockpiled a lot of lifetime memories. I feel really sad now that I lost contact with her after I left Carolina Day. She will certainly be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I will always be grateful that you and I shared the same fifth-grade classroom and that your and Jackie’s path crossed mine in this life. Love, Margaret Bryant
Jackie was such a big part of Carolina Day School. She was a caring person to every student and parent. So sorry David for your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. She was so proud of you.
My heartfelt sympathy to Jackie’s family. Cherish the many sweet memories
you have of this dear woman. She will be missed. Our creator is a God of
love who doesn’t like to see us suffer due to the passing of a loved one.
A time will come when death will be destroyed.
Isaiah 25:8 and 1Corinthians 15:26
David, may you and your family be comforted with wonderful memories you shared with your mom, especially during the past year of her life. She was wonderful to work with, and I always appreciated hearing her voice early in the morning, when she would call me to sub. When she left, she was very much missed, leaving behind many fans. One of the ways I will honor her memory is by never parking in her handicap spot at school. In my mind, that will always remain your mom’s place at CDS.
My thoughts are with all of you as you gather to say your final farewell to Jackie. I will always remember her with great affection.
My thoughts and prayers to the family as Jackie will truly be missed. I am a 1977 graduate of Asheville Country Day School and remember her as the first smiling face I saw each day upon entering the upper school doorway. She always teased me about arriving at school early to finish my homework! Jackie was beloved by all and I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Her warmth and caring enriched us all.
I have so many sweet memories of Ms. Gouge. She was advisor extraordinaire to our son. (He had the privilege of being amongst her last group of advisees.) However, she was so much more than that. She was always thinking of others and putting her actions where her thoughts were. What a great example to try to emulate.