Mary Neale Robbins
Mary Neale Robbins, a longtime resident of the beautiful Merritt's Mill Pond near Marianna, FL, passed away on July 16, 2025, at the age of 89.
Mary Neale Robbins
Born on June 2, 1936, in Floral Park, Long Island, NY, Mary moved with her family to North Carolina in 1943. She graduated from high school in New Hanover County in 1954 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in Library Science from East Carolina College in 1957.
Mary began her career teaching in Wilmington NC, before serving as a librarian for U.S. military dependents’ schools from 1958 to 1962 in locations including Ft. Bragg, Itazuki (Japan), RAF Sculthorpe (England), and Hahn (Germany). After returning to the U.S., she became Director of the Central Library Processing Lab for Escambia County Public Schools in Florida. She married Jerome Douglas “Doug” Robbins in November 1962 at First Baptist Church of Gulf Breeze. Both later earned master's degrees from Florida State University.
In 1968, they settled in Marianna, where Doug taught at Chipola Junior College. Mary worked as a librarian at Sunland Center Marianna from 1973 to 1976 and later for Dothan City Schools. From 1988 to 1998, she served as K-12 media specialist at Altha School in Calhoun County.
Mary was deeply involved in civic and historical organizations, including the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library and the Blue Springs Working Group. She contributed to the Chipola Historical Trust and in 2003 was made “Honorary Regent for Life” by the Chipola Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also founded the Blue Springs Society, N.S.C.A.R., and was named “Honorary Senior President for Life” in 2014. A member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Marianna, Mary served as church archivist for many years.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Russell Glenn and Loula May Barker Neale. She is survived by her husband, Doug Robbins; daughter, Laura Robbins Schell and husband Lloyd; son, Russell Robbins; grandson, Adrian Schell and wife Katherine; great-grandson Silas Schell; sister, Emily Neale McConathy and husband Phil; and numerous extended family members. She will be greatly missed by all!
A memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on August 30 at 2 p.m. CT, followed by committal at St. Luke’s Memorial Garden Columbarium and a reception at MacKinnon Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 4362 Lafayette St., Marianna, FL 32446 or one of the many other organizations of which she was a member.