James Lowell Robins

James Lowell 'Jim' Robins, 95 of Batesville died Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at the White River Medical Center in Batesville.He was born January 5, 1914 at Jesup, Arkansas, he was the son of John Louis and Elvira Turnbow Robins. He married Mollie Faye Andrews at Smithville on October 9, 1935 and before Mollie's death in 2006 they celebrated 71 years of marriage.Jim was a devout Christian and a member of the East Side Baptist Church of Cave City. He had served as Church Treasurer at the Eastside Baptist in Cave City and the First Missionary Baptist Church in Dexter, Missouri. He attended grade school at Jesup, High School in Strawberry and Sloan Hendrix Academy in Imboden where he graduated in 1934. Jim taught school at Pleasant Hill and Jesup in Lawrence County and at Calamine in Sharp County. He worked for the Lawrence County Welfare Department in the late 1930's. In the 1940's he became involved with Wilcoxsons furniture store in Walnut Ridge and remained in that business until he retired to Cave City, Arkansas in 1976. During that time he owned and operated furniture stores in Dexter, Missouri as well as in Piggott and Jonesboro, Arkansas and worked in furniture stores in Kennett, Missouri and Memphis, Tennessee. In Dexter, Missouri he served two terms as Alderman for Ward 1. He was a direct descendant of Jacob and Nancy Fortenberry, John and Monima Goodwin and John B. and Martha Turnbow all pioneer settlers of Lawrence County.Jim was preceded in death by his wife Mollie Faye and one son Bobby Lowell, his parents, four brothers: Taylor, Ed, Clyde and Leland and four sisters, Mae Sullivan, Maude Howard, Pearl Milligan and Lois Robins.He is survived by four children and their spouses: Byron and Wannetta Robins of Greers Ferry, Arkansas, Jerry and Barbara Billions of Germantown, Tennessee, David and Janis Robins of Prairie Grove, Arkansas and Joe and Martha Ruiz of Batesville, Arkansas; a daughter-in-law Pat Robins of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; twelve grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter, several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.Visitation will begin Thursday, August 20, 2009 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Qualls Funeral Home in Cave City. Funeral services will begin Friday, August 21, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Eastside Baptist Church in Cave City with the services being conducted by Rev. Jim Tirey and Rev. Bobby Walker. Burial will follow at the Lancaster Cemetery located near Strawberry with arrangements by Qualls Funeral Home of Cave City.Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Jeff, David and Mark Billions, and Jim Robins and great grandsons, Chris Newald and Chad Robins.