Obituary of Clarence Edward Boobie Robinson

Clarence Edward Robinson was born in Washington, DC, on August 31, 1948, to Benjamin W. Robinson and Minnie R. (Pinckney) Robinson. He was the third born of five children: Vernon Robinson (deceased), Benjamin Robinson, Anthony Robinson, and Areta (Robinson) Prince. The family affectionately referred to him as “Boobie” from a young age.

At an early age, he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior and was baptized at Abyssinia Baptist Church in Capitol Heights, MD where his father served as a trustee and mother served as a deaconess.    As a member of Abyssinia, he attended Sunday school, Vacation Bible school and countless church services with his parents. He enjoyed many church outings as a teen, and developed a loving, giving and caring spiritual foundation that remained with him throughout his life.

Clarence attended Prince George’s County Public Schools from kindergarten through high school and was a proud alumnus of Fairmont Heights High School. He often shared stories about the school’s rich history and its significance for African Americans during the 1960s. After graduating, Clarence enlisted in the United States Army. Shortly after completing basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he was deployed to Vietnam. He kept an entire photo album filled with pictures from his time in Vietnam, a collection he cherished deeply.

Upon returning from the Vietnam War, Clarence used his GI Bill to enroll in Federal City College (now the University of the District of Columbia), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He leveraged his degree to hone his skills as a Contract Specialist for the General Services Administration (GSA), where he worked diligently for over 38 years. Clarence also worked a part-time job as a security officer for several years. 

In April 1982, Clarence married Wanda (Hutchins) Robinson. They divorced in 2008. From this union, his daughter Takisha was born in September 1984, followed by his son Terence in July 1987. Clarence loved being a father. He enjoyed taking his children sightseeing around the DMV—especially to Hains Point, outdoor festivals in downtown DC, and beaches like Ocean City, Atlantic City, and Virginia Beach.

Clarence was a true warrior. He survived major brain tumor surgery in October 2006, which gave him a renewed outlook on life. He dedicated himself to supporting his family. In October 2008, his first grandchild, Saniya Ubiera, was born. When Takisha had to return to work after maternity leave, a grandparent from her school provided daycare for a short while, but due to illness, that arrangement fell through. In a moment of panic, Takisha called Clarence to fill in for what she thought would be just one week. By the end of the week, he told her not to worry about finding another provider—he would care for Saniya himself. From then on, Clarence also lovingly cared for his other grandchildren, Tristan and Trevin Ubiera, from birth until they were ready for preschool. He also picked them up after school once they entered elementary school.

His caregiving extended beyond his grandchildren. When his eldest brother Vernon fell ill in his later years, Clarence welcomed him into his home and helped nurse him back to health. The two took turns caring for each other when Clarence fell ill in October 2021 and returned home from a rehabilitation center in February 2022. They remained close and lived together until Vernon’s passing in December 2023—a loss that deeply affected Clarence.

After a recurring battle with congestive heart failure and its complications, Clarence passed away peacefully on May 7, 2025.  He is survived by his loving children, Takisha and Terence (wife Christina); his brothers Benjamin “Baye”, and Anthony (wife Suzette); his sister, Areta; his grandchildren, Saniya, Tristan, and Trevin; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will cherish his memory.