Sept. 12, 1936 – Feb. 6, 2012

NATCHEZ — Services for Clarence James Robson Sr., 75, of Natchez, who died Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at Promise Hospital in Vidalia, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church with the Rev. Birdon Mitchell officiating.

Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of Robert D. Mackel and Sons Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 1 p.m. until service time Sunday at the church.

Mr. Robson was born Sept. 12, 1936, in Natchez, the son of Bennie Robson and Annie Laura Bernard. He was a member of Zion Chapel AME Church.

Mr. Robson was a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Chicago State University and Governor’s State University. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force and was retired after serving 28 years with the Chicago Board of Education.

Mr. Robson enjoyed the time he spent serving his community in his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and loved the bond he shared with the brotherhood. He was initiated into Mu Mu Lambda Chapter Saturday, Dec. 10, 1988, in Illinois. He was a member of Prince Hall F & AM and was so proud when he received his 33rd Masonic degree in Memphis, Tenn., in October 2010.

He enjoyed a life of fun with friends and family as he truly valued people more than things. He always wanted, in his words, “the best of the best for my wife and two sons.” He enjoyed talking with anyone, even those he hadn’t seen before. Any chance meeting always brought encouraging words, lots of cheer and a means of help. You could always find him helping someone or simply cheering them up. He enjoyed producing beautiful oil paintings, antique collecting, finishing furniture, fishing, playing his saxophone, photography and dressing. He was an avid reader and shared a number of words of wisdom in his comical way.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, James Bernard; one brother, Bennie Robson Jr.; and one sister, Ruth B. Bernard.

He leaves to cherish his loving, jovial memories, his devoted wife, Willa, whom he adored; two sons, Marcus of Natchez and Clarence Jr. of Jackson; an adorable, long wished for six-moth old granddaughter, Camden; an adopted fraternity son, Fred Marsalis Jr. of Vidalia; two sisters, Annie Mary Dunmore and Marcella Washington, both of Natchez; and his two “little people,” Taffy and Hercules, his beloved little Dachshunds.