Florence Robinson Williams

A beautiful life came to a close on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, as Florence Elaine Eva Robinson Williams joined her Heavenly Father. Born January 16, 1943, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Dorothy Perrilliat Robinson and Fuller J. Robinson. She lived a life marked by faith, grace, and strength.

She was a woman of quiet resilience and deep compassion. Florence believed in the power of kindness, the value of hard work, and the importance of family. Throughout her life, she was known for her warm smile, gentle wisdom, and unwavering support for her friends and loved ones. Her home was a place of welcome, where laughter was shared freely and no one ever left hungry. She provided nourishment for the body, mind, and soul.

Florence graduated from St. James High School in 1960 and with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Dillard University in 1964. While at Dillard University, she pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Beta Upsilon Chapter in the Spring of 1961 and later witnessed her daughters follow in her footsteps. She received a Master’s in Psychiatric Nursing from Wayne State University in 1972. Florence went on to be an instructor in Psychiatric Nursing, a Staff Nurse, and a Head Nurse in Psychiatry. She was proud to influence several family members to pursue careers in nursing.

Florence retired from the Los Angeles Unified School District after 30 years as a school nurse. During and following her professional career, she was a member of the National League for Nursing, National Black Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, American Nurses Association, and United Teachers Los Angeles.

Florence lived in various locales other than Louisiana during her lifetime, including Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan; Austin, Texas; Southern California; and she spent her last years in Columbus, Ohio. She exposed her daughters to other cultures through travel, she had a love of shopping, and she emphasized holiday traditions, hospitality, and cooking. Florence held a true devotion to QVC, and she never met a toiletry, makeup item, or kitchen gadget that she didn’t like…or eventually buy!

She believed in doing what was right, loving deeply, and finding joy in life’s simple moments. Whether through thoughtful conversations, shared meals, or quiet encouragement, she had a way of making people feel at home in her presence. Florence took pride in nurturing strong bonds, celebrating milestones, passing on traditions, and offering steady guidance. Her laughter, wisdom, and warmth will be missed more than words can adequately express; however, her influence will live on through the many lives she touched. Her daughters will continue to honor her legacy by living with the same compassion and grace she modeled.

Florence is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Fuller J. Robinson, Jr., her sister Joycelyn Robinson Coulter, her nieces Brandi Nicole Coulter and Rakeisha Shanté Coulter. She is survived by her daughters, Terrilyn René Williams (Stephen Eric Ifeduba), Mysheika Williams Roberts (Edward), her niece Brittany Coulter Gaither (LaKea), and her grandnieces Takari Coulter, Tamaya Deshanti Olalekan (Olawale), great-grandniece Olasubomi Tovi Olalekan, and a large coterie of family members and friends. And of course, her grand pups, Cosby and Rudy.

A celebration of her life will take place on Wednesday, January 14, at 3 pm at The Kitchen, 231 East Livingston Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43215. And in New Orleans on her Heavenly Birthday, January 16.

In lieu of flowers, her daughters ask that you consider a donation in her honor to Dillard University College of Nursing.