Anne R.G. "Russ" ROBERTSON

ROBERTSON, Anne R.G. "Russ," died peacefully and surrounded by her family at Dogwood Village, Orange, Va., on Monday, October 24, 2011. Russ was born February 13, 1919 in Reidsville, N.C., to the late Judge Allen H. Gwyn and Jane Johnston Gwyn. She graduated from Duke University, Durham, N.C., in 1940. Shortly after graduation she met Alexander Stuart "Robbie" Robertson Jr., and they married May 30, 1942. After the war and Robbie's graduation from UVA law school, they returned to Orange in 1948. Russ lived in Orange for the rest of her life. Russ and Robbie were married 41 years until his death in July 1983. They had three daughters, Jane Gwyn Robertson Zimmermann, Marie Ellis Robertson and Lucy B. Robertson Alexander. Russ was a wonderfully remarkable woman. She possessed a keen intellect and an ability to remember every detail. She was deeply interested in the welfare of others and her kindness and engaging sense of humor brought friends of all ages to her side. She loved a party and you could always find her by looking for the cluster of people surrounding her. She has been described repeatedly as a "true southern gentlewoman," who always found a pleasant word to say or to write in one of her well-known notes. She was deeply loved by many and especially by her devoted family. Her gentle wisdom, wit and genteel ways will be greatly missed. Russ' involvement in the community began in her early years in Orange. She and Robbie were active members of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. They were also members of the Montpelier Club and Four County Players. They were founding members of the Country Town Pool and Russ was a founding member of the Orange Garden Club and was a member of the Dolly Madison Garden Club later. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was also Class President of her 50th year reunion class at Duke, and was an active alumna. In later years, she evolved into a philanthropist. She supported many organizations, including the Montpelier Foundation, the Orange Downtown Alliance, the Arts Center, the Boys and Girls Club and the Orange Free Clinic. In 2000 she donated a much needed playground to St. Thomas Episcopal Church in memory of her lost family members. In 2008 she worked with the ODA to create Robertson Plaza with fountain jets that the children and families of Orange have enjoyed. In 2009 she created the A. Stuart Robertson Jr. Scholarship at the University of Virginia law school, and recently she participated in celebrating the creation and dedication of Robertson Lake at Woodberry Forest School, again in memory of Robbie. Mrs. Robertson was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Allen Hatchett Gwyn Jr. and Julius Johnston Gwyn of Reidsville, N.C.; her daughters, J. Gwyn Robertson Zimmermann of Ithaca, N.Y., and M. Ellis Robertson of Kansas City, Kan., and Gloucester, Mass.; and her niece, Elizabeth Robinson Lewis of Charlottesville, Va. She is survived by her daughter, Lucy B. Robertson Alexander of Cary, N.C.; and grandchildren, R. Alexander Shepherd of Raleigh, N.C., Anne B. Shepherd, also of Raleigh, and Nate Shepherd of Cary, N.C. She is also survived by her son-in-law, Peter Zimmermann of Connecticut; and sisters-in-law, Trish W. Gwyn of Greensboro, N.C., and Lucinda Robertson Lally, of Charlottesville, Va. She is survived by her nieces, Stuart L. Richard, of Kentucky, Hope Lally, of Charlottesville, Meg L. Catlett, of Richmond, Va., Julie Gwyn Packard, of Greensboro, N.C., Dot Gwyn Harper, of Greensboro, N.C., Jane Gwyn Ward, of Greensboro, N.C., and Leslie Gwyn, of New York, N.Y. Her surviving nephews include John Robinson, of Portland, Oregon, John Laimbeer, of Montana, and Wright Gwyn, of Forest Park, Ohio. The family of Russ Robertson would like to extend its gratitude and appreciation to the staff at Dogwood Village, especially Dr. Lindsey Neal, Mrs. Patty Talley and the staff on West Main, who gave Russ and the family such loving care over the past five months. They also wish to recognize Diane and Peter Johnson for the faithful assistance and consideration they have given for the past several years, and Cherrie Jackson for the great help and comfort she provided. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 2 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Orange, Va. Burial will be private. Preddy's Funeral Home in Orange is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Boys and Girls Club or the Orange Free Clinic.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.