Rosalie Robinson Gordon-Mills

1908 - 2004

Educator, Civic Leader, Businesswoman

Mrs. Rosalie Robinson Gordon-Mills, 96 years, died on April 20st at Flagler Hospital following complications of a collapsed lung. A retired educator and counselor for forty-four years with the St. John's County School System, she was head of the English Department at Excelsior School and Director of Guidance and College Placement at Ketterlinus High School.

In addition to her teaching career, Mrs. Gordon-Mills was a civic leader and politician, having been the first Black woman in 400 years to run for public office in St. Augustine for which she is currently listed in the Florida history books. In 1986, she received a Presidential Award from President Reagan for Private Sector Initiatives because of her outstanding leadership role with the St. Augustine Council on Aging in procuring the site and establishing the first multipurpose senior citizen's center in St. Augustine.

Mrs. Gordon Mills was born in Tallahassee, Florida to Arthur Howard Robinson, owner of a dairy business, which exported dairy products interstate. Her mother, Callie Eliza Ferrell, was a school teacher with her own school, as was her grandmother, Henrietta Robinson, the first licensed Black teacher in the state of Florida. In the l920's, her parents moved to St. Augustine, where her father became the head of the Agricultural Division of Florida Normal College and her mother became the Dean of Women. They came at the invitation of President Collier who had met them in Tallahassee.

Mrs. Gordon Mills attended the Model Laboratory School of Florida A. & M., where she graduated with highest honors. She then realized her dream of attending college at Boston University, where she majored in Chemistry and Physical Sciences. During her years at Boston University she was a member of the Varsity Broad Jump and Pole Vaulting team as well as the Debating team. She also pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha

Sorority - Epsilon Chapter and was a member of The Aristos, a Boston Social Club. She would later return to Boston University and receive her Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1947.

When she returned to St. Augustine following graduation to visit with her parents, she met her future husband, Dr. Rudolph Nathaniel Gordon, America's first Black Maxillo-Facial surgeon, who was researching a location for his practice. They met at an Episcopalian Church picnic, were married and were together for twenty-five years prior to Dr. Gordon's death in l959. Together they were a formidable force in the St. Augustine community. Education and care of the children of Lincolnville was a top priority. They encouraged young people to attend four year colleges and often took them to college and paid their tuition. He established a free Dental Clinic for Lincolnville children and a Boy Scout Troop for the boys of the community. After Dr. Gordon's death, Mrs. Gordon-Mills would marry Dr. Otis J. Mills, long time friend and member of the family that owned the famous "Iceberg" drugstore and manufactured the popular "Smooth As Silk" ice cream. They had a wonderful twelve year relationship before he succumbed to Alzheimer's Disease.

Mrs. Gordon- Mills was an enthusiastic participant in the Civil Rights movement and supported all efforts of Lincolnville to work with Dr. Martin Luther King. She also befriended Mrs. Peabody, who came from Massachusetts to support the movement in St. Augustine. During this time she ran for the City Council against six males and after winning the primary, finished third in the final election, making her the first Black woman to run for public office. She always felt a strong commitment to the future of St. Augustine and wanted to promote racial harmony. A member of one of Florida's most illustrious families, she was a direct descendant (through her Maternal Grandmother, Henrietta Robinson) of "The Great Antonio Proctor," who was born in 1743 and was the recipient of l85 acres in St. Augustine from the Spanish Governor of Florida for his work as an interpreter between the Creek Indians and the Spanish when Florida was still under Spanish rule.

Mrs. Gordon-Mills' elder years were as filled with activity as her early years. A woman of intellectual brilliance, impeccable character and determination, she continued to be active as a lifetime member of the Board of the Council on Aging; an officer of the Board of Echo House - a tutoring and community center started by her -- and an active member of St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, where she was a member of The Daughters of The King and a member of the Vestry.

She was the active C.E.O. of the family real estate business until the week of her death, spending each day problem-solving, meeting with her management crew and insuring that her tenants and her properties were well cared for. Her considerable business acumen was respected by all of the business people whom she encountered. (She made recent trips to Tallahassee to meet with the State Historical Society to present grant requests for her Echo House project.)

Her social life was equally active. As a founding member of the Daytona Beach chapter of The Links, Inc., she attended meetings and activities regularly and participated in their many scholarship fundraising efforts for regional students. In addition she administered the scholarship fund set up by her dear deceased friend Mrs. Bemis of St. Augustine that enables deserving and talented students to attend Bethune Cookman College. She enjoyed the regular gatherings of the Clique Club and Venetian Club to which she had belonged for many years.

Mrs. Gordon-Mills loved her family; her daughter, Dr. Carlotta Gordon Miles and her son-in-law, Atty. Theodore A. Miles of Washington, D.C. (Her beloved son, Rudolph N. Gordon, II, predeceased her in l967.) Her grandchildren were the loves of her life and she had a special relationship with each of them -- Dr. Wendell Gordon Miles and Miss Lydia Carlotta Miles of Washington. D.C. and Mrs. Cecily Miles Slater and her husband Ramael Slater of Hollywood, California. Her brother, Dr. Arthur J. Robinson and his son Arthur J. Robinson, Jr. of Palm Coast; her sister-in-law Verna C, Robinson of Washington and her niece, Angela Robinson Witherspoon and her husband, John Witherspoon of Los Angeles, California and her nephew Elbert C. Robinson of Washington. Her first cousins, Celestine Nicks of Mandarin, Florida and Ida Mae Harrison of Columbus, GA. Her family looked to her for guidance, advice and as an example of a Christian life well-lived.

Born into a privileged family, Mrs. Gordon-Mills had a deep sense of obligation to her fellow man and an unfailing determination to make a difference with her life. She had a deep devotion to all children, a strong sense of racial pride and a commitment to the concept of "From those to whom much is given, much is expected." Her selflessness and generosity to others was unequaled. She believed that love should be put into action and faith in God was the foundation of life.

Mrs. Gordon-Mills was fortunate in having a circle of loving friends who, in the last years of her life joined her family in making these years especially joyful. W.D. McCoy, a former student and "son", was a devoted and concerned companion, Dorothy and Rudolph Israel and Maggie and Pat Patterson were ever present and supportive in whatever she chose to undertake. Otis and Myrtis Mason made it possible for her to continue her Links, Inc. participation. Father David Allert and the members of the St. Cyprian's congregation admired and respected her wisdom and her spirituality. Arthur Schwecke, her neighbor and "son"; and Joe Logan, and Janice Brown, her business manager helped her to continue her corporate activities Josephine Quarterman, Lena Callueng and John Gilbert enabled her to continue to maintain her household and lifestyle until the end. These special friends will always be remembered with gratitude and deep affection by her family.<