On Dec. 7, 2024, our Lord and Savior decided to call home the name of Tyrone Romero Robinson.

His name is marked in the annals of Orangeburg, South Carolina history as being one of the first Black students to integrate the all-white Orangeburg High School in 1964.

He departed this life leaving a sister, Lynn Robinson Miller, a brother, Elton Robinson, and a host of family and friends.

From 1704 until 1865, the mass majority of Blacks were enslaved by whites in the County of Orangeburg. This marked a total of 161 years of not being free in the society that existed in our community for so long.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that racial separation in public schools is unconstitutional, but white resistance to integration continued in South Carolina. Integration did not come to Orangeburg County’s public schools until 1964.

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That year marked the first time in our history that the Black and white children attended the public schools of Orangeburg together.

Thirteen Blacks entered Orangeburg High School, one entered Thackston Junior High School, four entered Mellichamp Elementary School and one entered Ellis Avenue Elementary School. They became a point of reference for the beginning of public school integration in Orangeburg. They all became the first 19 black students to integrate Orangeburg School District Five.

Robinson was born in Orangeburg on Nov. 20, 1950. His parents were John Samuel and Ruth Hubbard Robinson, who were professional and prominent Blacks in the Orangeburg community.

For more than 40 years, his father was a sales representative for funeral supplies and advertising specialties. He was also a leading member of the business community, a military veteran, a church leader at St. Luke Presbyterian Church and a member of the NAACP.

When Tyrone became of school age, his parents enrolled him into the Christ the King Catholic School that was located behind Trinity United Methodist Church. While a student, he became an active participant in the civil rights movement in Orangeburg.

That experience and knowledge gave him a broad insight into what the integration movement in the Orangeburg school system would be about.

When he was in the eighth grade, his parents joined the movement to integrate the public schools in Orangeburg. This participation landed him along with his father in the notorious “Pink Palace,” which was the Orangeburg County jail.

After their legal fight, along with other Blacks, their efforts were granted, and they enrolled Tyrone at the all-white Orangeburg High School.

Robinson became a member of the junior varsity basketball team. He continued to play an important role as he became a varsity member.

Tyrone graduated from Orangeburg High School in 1968.

He then attended Claflin University and received a bachelor’s degree in physical education. Later, he completed studies at Springfield College in Massachusetts and a master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation and counseling from South Carolina State College.

In the 1990s, Tyrone joined the mortuary supplies sales business operated by his father.

His father, John Samuel Robinson, departed this life on Aug. 22, 1996, and his mother, Ruth Hubbard Robinson, a former school teacher and book writer, departed on Nov. 28, 2020, at the age of 94.

On May 28, 2006, the T&D printed – by Richard Reid – “Easing the transition”

It said, “That year, some white students and teachers displayed their compassion and understanding while others created evil and other acts. Tyrone Robinson was a ninth-grader.

“Recently, he reflected on how local attorney Charles Williams eased some of the frustrations of being ostracized by inviting him to a party. Robinson also stated how words of encouragement came from the Black employees at Orangeburg High.

“The cafeteria workers, Ms. Henderson, Ms. Keitt, Ms. Jones and janitors Rose Harris, Sinclair Dantzler, James Mimms and James Hollinquest constantly inspired them to keep their heads up.”

Then on Jan. 25, 2008, The T&D printed, “Howell Awarded Church Scholarship – Michael A. Howell recently received the John S. and Ruth H. Robinson Scholarship Award, a $500 scholarship given to high school graduates who are members of the St. Luke Presbyterian Church.”

Tyrone’s parents always played the role of givers in St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Orangeburg. He would always participate with his mom after his father passed.

On Nov. 7, 2022, The T&D printed, “We had to press on—Students who desegregated local school tell experience.”

The story by Martha Rose Brown notes Tyrone Robinson turned 72 that month.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t discuss Orangeburg High School,” he told dozens of people gathered at the Orangeburg County Library.

“I’m not here to cause animosity, hatred,” he said.

Robinson, along with some of the other Black students who desegregated Orangeburg’s school in 1964, talked about school experiences and what life was like prior to integration.

Robinson said, “In 1964, Orangeburg, South Carolina, was not a nice place to live.

“You were introduced to racism at an early age. When you were going to the doctor, you had to sit in a separate room. If you went to a water fountain, you had to drink from a separate fountain. If you wanted to order a Coke, you had to get it from a separate bottling machine.

“Everything was separate.”

Robinson said, “The myth we tore down in the school system was separate but equal.

“To say I was traumatized? You hear about what’s going on in the school systems more with these shootings and such. That’s the only thing that didn’t happen to us.”

Then, The T&D wrote on June 22, 2023, “Our Investment is paying off; OHS’s first integrated class reflects on changes since 67.”

Dionne Gleaton’s story said, “The first integrated class of Orangeburg High School came together to celebrate their 56th reunion, and also reflect on how far they’ve come since the tumultuous times of integration in the 1960s.

“Perry Weeks said it was great to be able to fellowship with his classmates. He also said he had no problem with the integration of the school and recalled that (Tyrone) Dash and Tyrone Robinson, who was also among the first Blacks to desegregate the high school, were ‘great fellas to be around.’”

Over a number of years, I have discussed with Tyrone the historical events that he experienced as being one of the first Blacks in Orangeburg to integrate the public schools in 1964. He was always willing and ready to talk about the past.

During many of the conversations, I could hear in his voice how he managed life in those trying times.

I recalled him telling me about the time when a white male student kicked him as he was walking up the staircase at Orangeburg High.

Years after that incident, he and the student became real good friends.

Lastly, Tyrone Robinson never forgot where he came from and how he got to where he was. His life is marked permanently in the annals of the educational history of the City of Orangeburg, South Carolina.

“Let us not forget.”

Richard Reid is president of the Orangeburg Historical and Genealogical Society. His mission is researching Orangeburg history, with a particular emphasis on the role of African Americans in that history.

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