Mary Lois Robinson

Mary Lois Cochran Robinson passed away October 15, 2023, and the world got a little more boring. Mary Lois, who always insisted on both names, was born December 14, 1928, to Ferris MacNeal Cochran and Eura Haley Cochran. She came into the world with working hands, dancing feet, and a loving heart. She had the gift of hospitality, and her house was always "company ready". If you ever met her, even once, you can rest assured that she loved you. She liked pretty things, dancing, cooking, singing, and most of all, people.

Though she only had an eighth-grade education, she was brilliant. Witty and laugh-out-loud funny, she kept everybody around her in stitches right up to the end with her wisecracks, foul mouth, and dirty jokes.

She was a hard worker. She sewed buttons at the Red Cap factory until the factory closed, then held odd jobs until she was physically unable to work anymore. For fun, she worked on the hobby farm she ran with her husband - gardening, cooking, canning, and decorating. She made everything around her beautiful and made everyone she knew feel special. Nobody could ever leave her house without eating something and taking some for the road. Her specialties were fried chicken and coconut cake. When she got too sick to cook, she’d still try to give away canned goods and candy to anybody who stopped by.

Her family gives thanks for her generous heart, her warmth, and her ninety-four years of making sure everyone around her knew she loved them. We feel so blessed to have known her. While she will be deeply missed, we rejoice that she is no longer in pain.

Mary Lois was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters; two brothers; her husband and love of her life, James Edward Robinson; and her cherished son, James Neal Robinson. She is survived by her sweet sister, Judy Loveless, who she always admired; her appreciated daughter-in-law, Jody Robinson, who says she won the mother-in-law jackpot; her beloved grandchildren, Dustin (Karen Ocon) Robinson and Haley (Thomas Farley) Robinson, who she always called “Grandma’s angels”; her adored great-grandchildren, Ryan, David, Joanna, and Carolyn; and more nieces and nephews than can be listed here. She loved you all. Have some fried chicken and coconut cake in her honor.

Visitation will be held 11:00 - 2:00 pm Saturday, October 21 at Spann Funeral Home

Funeral Services for Mary Lois Robinson will be conducted at 2:00 pm Saturday, October 21 in the Spann Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Haley Robinson officiating.  

Interment to follow at Union Cemetery in Dickson

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Tennova Hospice, who cared for her in her final weeks; or First Baptist Church of Dickson, where she was a faithful member for about a million years.