Marian Robinson, the mother of former first lady Michelle Obama, died Friday at the age of 86, according to family.
Robinson was a fixture in the Obama White House and resided there during his tenure to help watch over the first couple’s daughters, Sasha and Malia.
Michelle Obama said in an article on X that her mother “was the same constant support to our entire family.”
“Her wisdom seemed almost innate, like something she was born with, but in reality it was hard-earned, shaped by her deep understanding that the rough edges of the world could always be sanded away with a little grace,” the family said in A declaration.
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Marian Lois Shields went on to study teaching before landing a job as a secretary. She married Fraiser Robinson in 1960 and the couple had two children, a son Craig in 1962 and a daughter Michelle in 1964.
Michelle Obama and Robinson opened up about their strong bond growing up during an interview on “Good Morning America” with Robin Roberts in 2022.
“A long time ago, you had a little kitchen table…people would come over…and you and your kids would have. PB and J, right, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches ?”
“That’s her. The rest of us didn’t have PB or J, she just refused to eat anything else for breakfast,” Robinson joked.
“Okay, okay, don’t tell them all my secrets,” Michelle Obama replied.
The family said Robinson had been very supportive of her daughter when she “married a guy crazy enough to go into politics.”
“At every step, as our families took paths none of us could have predicted, she remained our refuge from the storm, keeping our feet on firm ground. On election night in 2008, when the news broke “Barack would soon take on the weight of the world, she was there, holding his hand,” the family said.
When the Obamas moved into the White House, Robinson agreed to move in after “a healthy push,” to help raise the first couple’s daughters.
“’Just show me how to work the washing machine and everything will be fine,’ she would say,” the family said.
The family noted that Robinson tended to prefer to stay upstairs and not associate with guests who frequented the White House, with one exception: Pope Francis.
“Over those eight years, she became friends with the ushers and butlers, the people who make the White House feel like home. She would often sneak past the doors to buy greeting cards from CVS, and sometimes another customer would recognize her. ‘You look like Michelle’s mother,’ they would say. She would smile and respond, ‘Oh, I get that a lot,'” the family said.
Robinson returned to Chicago after Obama’s second term ended and remained active in the family’s life.
Three weeks ago, Michelle Obama posted a photo of herself and her mother on her Instagram page celebrating Mother’s Day.
The cause of his death was not immediately revealed.
Robinson is survived by his children, his son, his daughter-in-law and six grandchildren.
“In our sadness, we are lifted by the extraordinary gift of his life. And we will spend the rest of ours trying to live up to his example,” the family said in a statement.
News Source : abcnews.go.com
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