Joyce McKinley Robinson

Joyce McKinley-Robinson transitioned to eternal rest on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. She was born to Jamaican parents, the late Edwin Samuel McKinley and Ruth Barrett McKinley, on September 21, 1936 in New York, New York. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, beloved teacher, and friend. She was preceded in death by her father, mother, brother Edwin Raymond "Ray" McKinley, and son Marc E. Robinson. She maintained a special connection with her first husband and the father of her children, James T. Robinson Jr. until his passing in 2016. She leaves to cherish her memory, daughter Sherri (Lawrence) Hamilton; grandchildren, Ashley Robinson, Brandon (Christy) Robinson, Shakayla Burris, Kali Wallington, Kayla Wallington, Kadeem Wallington, Omavi Hamilton, and Asali Hamilton; great-grandchildren, Avanti, Wesley, Aaliyah, Cameron, Ayanna, Scott, Katherine, Mya, and Kamiyah; a host of close family, friends, and dozens of former students who affectionately referred to her as mom. Joyce received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education and Master of Arts in Music Theory from Hunter College in New York (Summa Cum Laude). While enrolled in the Doctoral Studies Program at New York University, she studied piano privately at the Juilliard School of Music and Vocal Pedagogy at Westminster Choir College. Her love of performing started at age 5, when she first performed at Carnegie Recital Hall. She used her music, the universal language, to relate to people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. Her teaching career began in Brooklyn, New York in 1958 and continued in Columbus, Ohio at St. Joseph Academy. She taught in Columbus Public Schools from 1972 through 2005 at Mohawk Jr./Sr. High School, Starling Middle School, Briggs High School, and Mifflin High School. Her Jamaican heritage is evident in her affinity for African Culture. Her experience in ethnic studies included teaching at Uhuru Sasa in New York and Umojo Sasa in Columbus. She has directed 17 youth choirs throughout the community in addition to those that she directed as a music teacher, including serving as the Columbus Girl Choir's inaugural director and as the founder of Tambourines of Joy. Some notable experiences as a director include several years with The Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Commemorative Choir, The Bishop Desmond Tutu Ecumenical Choir, National Convention Choir of the Episcopal Church, The Governor Ted Strickland Campaign Choir in 2006. She has been involved in both creating and judging many talent shows, including the New York City Talent Expo at the Lincoln Center and was involved as a judge and accompanist for the Omega Psi Phi Annual Talent Hunt benefiting youth in Central Ohio and the NAACP ACT-SO competitions. Her passion for performing and theater escalated as the Musical Director of Center Stage Theatre for productions such as Ain't MisbehavinçBubblin' Brown Sugar, The Me Nobody Knows, Golden Boy, Carmen Jones, Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope and Black Nativity. During this time, she was selected as the Musical Director of the National Black History Museum Tour featuring Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Brock Peters, Robert Hooks, Saundra Sharp, and William Marshall. She has received numerous community service awards, including proclamations from Columbus City Council and the Mayor's office for outstanding leadership and contributions to the community. She was honored as Citizen of the Year for 2008 by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity's Mu Iota Chapter and has been recognized in Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who in America and is a member of the National Association of University Women. Her professional organization memberships include the Delta Omicron Professional Music Society and Kappa Mu Epsilon Honorary Music Society. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Community activities include Tuskegee Airmen, Women's Work as a Ministry Annual Day of Prayer, Children's Music Ministry Workers Conference, and the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta Workshop - St. Croix, Virgin Islands. She served at many churches beginning as a teenager, with the longest commitment as the Organist and Minister of Music at St. Philip Episcopal Church beginning in 1964. Before retiring, she enjoyed serving as accompanist for the St. Paul A.M.E. Men's Choir. She motivated countless individuals of all ages to perform. Her belief was that "Everyone has talent. You simply have to discover what yours is and use it!" Her passion for music and life allowed her to impact and change the lives of all who knew her. Her legacy and music live on through her family and the many students who became musicians and teachers due to her influence.