Harriet Peebles Robinson

Harriet Peebles was born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 24th, 1921 to Junius E. Peebles and Harriet Caldwell Peebles. Harriet was the youngest of their five children, four daughters and one son.

She was very close to her three sisters, who all preceded her in death. Mary Peebles (mother of Thomas Peebles, deceased), Rose Peebles Ratcliffe (mother of Walter Ratcliffe Jr., Cleveland, OH), and Daisy Peebles Webster (mother of Harriet Webster Tate, Silver Spring, MD, Rosemary Webster West, deceased, Cleveland, OH, Gary Webster, Cleveland, OH, and Michael Webster, Atlanta, GA). Her brother, Junius E. Peebles, Jr., also called Honey, preceded her in death.

The Peebles family worshipped under Bishop Charles Mason, the Founder of the Church of God in Christ, in Memphis, Tennessee. Although Harriet spent her early years in Memphis, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to be near her sisters. She eventually moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue her education, where she lived with her cousin Muriel Poole of Compton, CA. Harriet was enrolled at Compton Community College, then later transferred to and graduated from California State University at Los Angeles. Harriet continued her education and received a Master's degree in Education from the University of Southern California.

Harriet enjoyed a long career as a teacher with the Los Angeles Unified School District. Harriet was with the school district nearly 40 years. She worked as a reading specialist and a resource specialist. Harriet loved teaching and would often talk about the joys she received from her students.

Harriet met Witson Robinson, Sr., while working at Mutual Benefit Insurance Company, Los Angeles, CA, where she worked before pursuing her passion of teaching. Harriet and Witson were married on August 17th, 1951. They had a long and loving marriage. Witson affectionately called Harriet "Sangy" because she liked to sing. Witson preceded her in death in July 2003.

Harriet confessed Christ as her savior early in life, and was a devoted member of West Angeles Church of God in Christ. Harriet enjoyed talking about her love of the Lord and how important He was in her life. Later in life when getting to church became more difficult, Harriet would spend many hours of the day watching various television evangelists.

Harriet is survived by her nephew Rev. Walter (and wife April) Ratcliffe Jr., of Cleveland, OH, niece Harriet Louise Tate of Silver Spring, MD, nephew Gary Webster, of Cleveland, OH, nephew Michael (and wife Lorna) Webster of Atlanta, GA. Grandnephews Brian Tate of Gaithersburg, MD, Gary Maurice Webster, Patrick Webster, Keenan Webster, Michael Webster II, Ray Ratcliffe and Rahman West, all of Cleveland, OH. Grandnieces Cheryl Lynn Ratcliffe, Christian Ratcliffe, and Michele Webster, all of Cleveland, OH. And niece Earldean Hildreth Peebles (widow of Thomas Peebles, deceased) of Los Angeles, CA. And her dear, lifelong friend of more than 75 years, Mrs. Rozena Anderson of Los Angeles, CA. Harriet is also survived by a host of other family members and friends.

The family of Harriet Peebles Robinson would like to acknowledge and extend our overwhelming gratitude to her other family, her devoted caregivers, Beatriz 'Lady' Argueta and Judith Irma Aparicio, both of whom cared for her for many years, and both of whom she considered her daughters, and with whom she enjoyed a very close and special relationship. We'd also like to acknowledge and extend our gratitude to Deborah Richardson and Olga Argueta, who cared for her in her later years.