Bethany Dawn Robinson

On January 31, 2026, Bethany Dawn Robinson unexpectedly went home to be with her Lord and Savior.

Bethany was born on December 11, 1972, in Columbia, South Carolina, to Norman Buford and Mary McKay. She was later joined by brothers Jonathan and Joshua. Bethany moved quite a bit when she was young, with her mother ultimately settling in Pensacola, Florida, in Bethany's early middle school years. She graduated from Tate High School in 1991, having briefly but proudly served in the Showband of the South (which she adamantly maintained was the best high school band around, even when goaded by her husband pushing his Choctawhatchee Stylemarchers on her). She attended the University of West Florida before circumstances led her full-time into the workforce. In March 1995 she met Lee, a young and lanky lawyer who somehow found the nerve to ask out the most beautiful woman he had ever seen - and she said yes (sir). After their first date at McGuire's, fate was sealed. A couple years later she said "yeah" to his knee-bent proposal, and they were married on May 16, 1998, at Pine Forest United Methodist Church, a place where they had grown closer to each other, to God, and to a wonderful church community.

Three years later, in December 2000, they welcomed Hannah Lauren into their lives. While Lee welcomed his baby girl (and appreciated the tax break), Bethany's lifelong love of children now had a physical form and she was exactly what she was meant to be - a mommy. Their family multiplied (literally) when Jonah Lee and Elijah Matthews were born in July 2004. Not expecting twins until the second ultrasound (Elijah was hiding), their initial shock was followed by joy and unending pride, albeit punctuated by bouts of unadulterated fear and stress. No mother has ever loved her children more than Bethany. No mother has ever been prouder of her babies than Bethany. And no mother has ever raised a better woman or better men than Bethany. She was so proud of every accomplishment they achieved, and really of everything they did.

Bethany always loved the little things. When given even a tiny trinket, especially a miniature of anything, she would gush and be so excited. While she also loved bigger gifts, they (like the engagement ring) were often met with a more subdued response as she tried to absorb the situation in her head. Those reactions were part of the childlike awe and wonder she carried all her life. Those reactions were infectious and her family sought to elicit them whenever we could.

She loved giving, and had the ability to find just the right gift for the moment. She loved her family, and was fiercely protective of her husband and children in particular. But above all else, she was faithful to Jesus Christ. She instilled in her children a strong and abiding faith. Each expresses it in their own way, but that's exactly how she wanted it - each to have their own relationship with the Father. It is that faith that is carrying us now. We find solace in knowing that while God took her far too soon for our purposes, He was protecting her in ways we will only understand when we see her again. Bethany had many favorite Christian songs and Bible verses. The one that seems most appropriate for now is 1 Peter 5:10 - "And the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast."

Bethany leaves behind countless friends and family members, many of whom she kept in touch with by constant Facebook posts bragging about her family and all they had achieved. All of these friends and family meant so much to her. While she joins her earthly father in Heaven, she leaves behind Lee's side of the family as well as a second mother in Becky, an aunt who was as close as a sister in Lisa, and Ryan and Taylor whom she loved as her own.

A celebration of life will be held on March 21, 3:00 p.m., at St. Luke UMC in Pensacola; arrangements handled by Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bethany's name to St. Jude Children's Hospital to reflect her love for children and her constant appreciation for the work done by St. Jude.

We will always miss her, but she is never really gone. Her beautiful face, her tremendous smile, and her bright eyes lit up every room and Heaven is all the brighter for their addition. Bethany taught us to love each other, and to always always end a phone call or conversation by saying so. Lee, Hannah, Jonah, and Elijah each take comfort knowing the last thing we each said to her, and knowing the words she last heard from each of us: I love you.