Obituary of Freada Robbins

Freada Ann Stevens Robbins Freada Stevens Robbins, 80, died on June 19, 2011 in her home surrounded by family and friends from congestive heart failure. Mrs. Robbins was born November 15, 1930 in Cross Keys, SC, daughter of the late Clarence ?Buck? Stevens and Katie Etelka Jeter Stevens. Freada will be remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, doting grandmother and aunt, as well as a loyal friend, and sister. Mrs. Robbins graduated from Winthrop College at the age of 19 and set out on a life of adventure that took her all over the country working as a salesperson at Belk department store, a runway and print model, and an executive secretary for Celanese Corp. in Charlotte, NC where she met, fell in love with and married Daniel Otis Robbins in1963. Dan and Freada were transferred to New York, NY where they enjoyed the life of the big city sharing an apartment building with the likes of Charo and Ricky Nelson. Eventually, they came back to settle in Charlotte, NC where they adopted a son Mark Alexander Robbins, and two and a half years later a daughter Leigh Meredith Robbins. Dan and Freada were fond of saying that they were the ones who had been adopted. Freada left Celanese to raise her children, returning to the workplace as a tax preparer in 1981. She greatly enjoyed her work making a special connection with her clients and finally retiring at the age of 78. The couple was famous for their love of life, and New Year?s Eve parties. They knew how to make folks feel welcomed in their Charlotte home and at their lake house where they taught many folks the meaning of southern hospitality. Dan and Freada became active hummingbird watchers maintaining journals of the birds? comings and goings. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins were married for 27 beautiful years until Dan succumbed to leukemia in 1990. Freada was an accomplished gardener, and seamstress. She was renowned for her cooking, most notably her shrimp and grits, macaroni and cheese, and a rum cake that would bring a tear to the eye. Surviving are her son Mark Robbins, daughter Leigh Robbins, grandson Zachary Daniel Robbins (Mark?s son), all of Charlotte, NC. She is also survived by her brother Ray Stevens of Spartanburg, SC, as well as, nieces, nephews and 3 sister-in-laws, all of whom are living throughout the U.S. The family will receive visitors Friday June 24, 2011 night from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC. A memorial service will be held Saturday June 25, 2011 at 11:00am at Carmel Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, 1420 East 7th St., Charlotte, NC, 28204, American Heart Association, 222 S. Church St. Suite 303, Charlotte, NC 28202 or the Susan G. Komen Organization, 505 East Blvd., Suite 101, Charlotte, NC 28203