GREENVILLE – Carla Ann Blackwell Robinson, age 89, passed away Wednesday, March 20th, 2024 at Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation.
She was the only daughter of the late Samuel Carl Blackwell and Ermine Carver Blackwell. Born on June 7, 1934 at home in the quiet, coal mining community of Beech Creek, in Muhlenberg County, KY. She had an infant brother, James Eldon Blackwell, still born on May 30th, 1926, also in Beech Creek.
Carla Ann attended Hughes Kirk High School all 12 years and graduated there in May 1952. Six weeks after graduation, she married the love of her life who was stationed in Pensacola, Florida, and the most handsome sailor, Dorris Lee “Luke” Robinson, deceased June 28th, 2013, from Greenville.
Luke and Carla Ann were married by the late Rev. John Jennings at Beech Creek Baptist Church pastorium, where Carla was a member, on June 23, 1952. After getting married, they moved to Pensacola, Florida and lived there until Luke’s sea duty assignment. In October 1954, Luke was discharged from the U.S. Navy and he and Carla Ann moved back to Greenville.
Carla Ann and Luke loved to travel whenever possible. She collected many things including tiny, miniature perfume bottles, vintage jewelry, toys, dolls, and small lamps. She loved vacations and weekends with all of her family, shopping trips with her daughters and granddaughters. This all made for many wonderful memories with many Christmas’ and weekends at Opryland Hotel in Nashville over the years.
She was a member of Woodland Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville since 1954 and was a Kentucky Colonel alongside her late husband Luke.
Carla Ann and Luke made many trips back to Pensacola to visit close friends whom they kept up with for many years. Luke and Carla Ann would stop in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina shopping for antiques, stopping at malls and flea markets for all the items they collected.
Reading was a big part of Carla’s life. Her favorite time was very early mornings with devotionals and Bible readings and prayer for her family, sweet friends, and church family. She was always inspired by the lives and faithfulness of her wonderful parents and grandparents, and her immediate family also.
In May 1979, she and Luke opened “Luke’s Town and Country Flea Market” at their 13-acre farm on Highway 62 West in Greenville. She enjoyed all the friends, old and new, that God put into her life at this special time in both of their lives. Thank you for all your love and support all these many years.
Carla was preceded in death by her beloved late husband of 61 years, Dorris Lee “Luke” Robinson, parents Carl and Ermine Blackwell, brother, stillborn, James Eldon Blackwell, and stepmother, Mrs. Willie Carver Blackwell, son in law, Wayne Rice.
Survivors include daughters Judith Lynn Rice and Janet Luann (Wayne) Sparks, all of Greenville. Grandchildren Jennifer Lynn (Dr. Kelly) Vincent, Dr. Stuart Wayne (Kristen) Rice, Jessica Lauren (Hays) Browning, and Rachel Morgan (Wes) McDonald, all of Greenville. Great grandchildren Lauren Kelli (Thad) Cartwright of Greenville, Madelyn Vincent (Dr. Trey) Kinison of Louisville, Carver Aiden Rice, Sawyer Vann Rice, Brady Hays Browning, Bailey Ann Browning, and Kate Wesley McDonald, all of Greenville. Great- Great Grandchildren Samuel Briggs Cartwright, John Henry Cartwright, Matthew Able Cartwright, all of Greenville, Baby Boy Kinison of Louisville, sister-in-law Gloria Ann Hill of Owensboro and Bobby Driskill of Alabama, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins she loved so much.
A celebration of life service will be on Sunday, March 24th, 2024 at Woodland Baptist Church from 1-3 p.m. with services starting at 3 p.m. with Bros. E. W. Greenwalt, Clifford Lovell, and Thad Cartwright officiating. Burial at Woodland Baptist Church will immediately follow the service. In lieu of flowers, the family of Carla Ann encourages everyone to perform a random act of kindness in memory of “Nana” as she was the most kind and generous soul. Gary’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. God Bless.
