Former Macon mayor, state senator Lee Robinson remembered as a servant leader

The celebration of Lee Robinson's life began with the singing of the National Anthem in tribute of a fallen soldier in a flag-draped casket.

As hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects Tuesday morning at Ingleside Baptist Church, photographs of his life flashed on television screens.

Images from his 72 years painted a long picture of service.

From a fresh-faced soldier in Vietnam, the scenes moved on to a young state state senator with wavy red hair posing in a tan plaid suit with governors Jimmy Carter and George Busbee.

As an attorney, he fought for justice. While mayor, his battle was the war on drugs.

But eulogist Tim McCoy, Robinson's pastor of more than 25 years, said his greatest role was as a Christian soldier in the army of Jesus Christ.

On the eve of Veterans Day, the congregation belted out "Onward Christian Soldiers" at the family's request

Robinson's late parents were charter members of the church on Wimbish Road where Robinson discovered the calling of his later life, McCoy said.

After a stinging defeat in his 1991 bid for re-election as mayor, Robinson showed up for workday at church.

Robinson, always the strategic planner, was handed a small roller. He was asked to paint the curb yellow in the "no parking" zone of the chapel's horseshoe.

"Really?" the attorney asked to himself, according to the story he retold to McCoy and others.

"As I painted that day," Robinson had said, "I said, 'OK, Lord, I get it. The way forward for me will be as a servant. The way forward for me will be as a servant leader with humility.'"

It was a role Robinson relished, his pastor told the mourners who filled the lower level seats in the large worship center.

Nearly everyone in the room knew of Robinson's pink sport coat he wore as a Cherry Blossom Festival ambassador.

McCoy also told of Robinson's work with the Alzheimer's Association and he had been a champion of the American Cancer Society, particularly after the death of his wife, Irene.

"He served our country, our state, our community, those in need, his family," McCoy said. "Every bit of that was rooted in the core commitment to serve and follow Jesus Christ with his whole heart."

In the latter years, the pilot and flight instructor flew to the mission field to further advance the gospel.

He wasn't perfect, McCoy said, but had a passion to follow Christ, even when it meant being on his knees at 6:15 a.m. studying theology at the church in 10-week spurts.

Many of Robinson's political colleagues shared stories in the gathering place before the service.

The 31-year veteran of the Army Reserves who rose to the rank of colonel, had commanded Lonnie Miley, who was on duty election night 1987 in North Carolina and anxiously awaited returns from Miley's bid for Macon City Council.

"He got the word to me that I had won. He worked diligently for veterans," Miley said. "I always define people not for what you do in office, but what you do out of office. He was always out there."

Fellow Vietnam veteran C. Jack Ellis said Robinson was the only former mayor who regularly called him to offer help and support.

"He was a fine Southern gentleman, a soldier, a statesman, a great civic leader, a real patriot and a friend," Ellis said.

Robinson and State Senator David Lucas were afternoon running buddies at the old Fulton County Stadium during their days together at the Capitol.

"I think he had one heck of an impact, especially in the public defender's office," Lucas said.

When former mayor and U.S. congressman Jim Marshall moved to town, he first met Robinson through running.

"He was such a class act," Marshall said.

The memory pertinent to Robinson's integrity for Marshall was not his mayoral predecessor's victories, but his grace in defeat the night he lost the mayor's race to the late Tommy Olmstead.

"He was being slaughtered," Marshall said. "But he was being interviewed and he said, 'The people have spoken and they didn't whisper.' It sort of summed up his character."

Before a 21-gun salute, taps and full military honors at Riverside Cemetery, McCoy prayed over his friend for the last time.

The two were together in the final hours before Robinson lost his battle with stage 4 colon cancer on Nov. 4, "Pray that God will be glorified in this," Robinson told his pastor through the pain.

McCoy used the story to close the service.

"In life and in death, Jesus Christ has been glorified in the servant leader of Lee Robinson."

To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303 and follow her on Twitter@liz_lines.

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 2:36 PM with the headline "Former Macon mayor, state senator Lee Robinson remembered as a servant leader ."