Austin Robeson

York, SC - Clara Austin Averett Robeson, 93, was born March 23, 1921 in Birmingham, Alabama to Edward Boyle Averett and Clara Austin Mastin Averett. She went to Heaven on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 from her son's home in Landrum, South Carolina surrounded by her family. She was married to LT Edward John Robeson III USN (Ret), her buddy, for over 68 years. He preceded her to Heaven. Their six children are: Ann Austin Robeson Holmes (Dr. John D. Holmes), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: LtCol Edward John Robeson IV USMC (Ret) (Mary Ann Paul Robeson), Clyde, North Carolina who also precede his mother to Heaven; Ruth Richards Robeson Tinsley (H. Wallace Tinsley Jr.), York, South Carolina; MajGen Mastin Matthews Robeson USMC (Ret) (Nancy Jean Nofsinger Robeson), Landrum, South Carolina; Helen Averett Robeson Soyster (James P. Soyster), Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and Elizabeth Shelby Robeson Franklin (Keith A. Franklin), Lancaster, South Carolina. Austin self-identified as mother to 12 (6 by birth and 6 by love). She was grandmother to 21 and their spouses; great-grandmother to 36 with more anticipated soon. She was a spiritual mentor to many from all walks of life and ages. Austin Robeson grew up in Russellville, Alabama and also lived in Atlanta, Georgia and Morristown, Tennessee before settling in Chattanooga, Tennessee as a teenager. She was the oldest sister of Edward B. Averett Jr., Nathalie Matthews Averett Jones, and Mary Lee Averett Powell. She attended Columbia Bible College (Columbia International University), Columbia, South Carolina and intended to be a single missionary to India until she met Midshipman Edward Robeson US Naval Academy. She taught kindergarten in Salisbury, North Carolina prior to their wedding, June 10, 1944. Over the 68 years of her marriage, she lived in many cities and states where she always found opportunities to serve her Lord, her family, and those in need. Everywhere she lived, she boldly shared her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ which was the driving force of her life. Prior to coming to live with her daughter, Ruth, in York, South Carolina, she lived in their North Carolina mountaintop home near Ridge Haven Camp and Conference Center, Rosman, North Carolina (Presbyterian Church in America). She significantly contributed to the development and growth of Ridge Haven with her service, heart, and home. Her passion was to teach the Bible to children, teens, young adults, and women. She was a gifted writer, Bible teacher, published author, prayer warrior, and Christian conference and retreat speaker. She was active in the life of many churches over the years and led Sunday-School and Bible study classes for children, teens, and women in Pensacola, Florida, Greenwood, South Carolina, Chester, South Carolina, and Brevard, North Carolina. She was Director of Child Evangelism Fellowship in Augusta, Georgia. She authored Ridge Haven: God's Master Plan Revealed, the history of the founding and development of Ridge Haven much of which she was actively involved in living. During the 1990s, she and her husband (both in their 70s) lived in Odessa, Ukraine where they were missionaries for three deployments doing what she loved most, teaching the Bible in public schools from kindergarten through university. Austin loved having people in her home whether that was a tiny flat in Odessa or a large mountaintop home in NC or any of the many homes in between. Austin's and her Buddy's life verse was Phillippians 3:10-11: That I may know Him (Jesus Christ) and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering being made conformable to His death, if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead. This she lived out every day of her 93 years! The family would like to thank Diana Wylie, Sherry Whisonant, and Karen Connell for their loving and caring support for our Mother over these last years. They have been a true blessing. We also want to thank Hospice of the Carolina Foothills in Landrum for their very helpful, caring support in her final weeks. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at Filbert Presbyterian Church in York, South Carolina. The family will receive friends from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. on Friday in the church fellowship hall. Interment will be at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 27 at Green Hill Cemetery in Waynesville, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to A Restoration Church, 2674 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241; Wycliffe Bible Translators (Account 228453) P.O. Box 628211, Orlando, FL 32862-8211; Ridge Haven Conference Center, 215 Ridge Haven Road, Brevard, NC 28712; Columbia International University, 7435 Monticello Road, Columbia, SC 29203. Life verse – Galations 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

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