Robbie Lee Means

There are darknesses in life, and there are lights. Robbie was one of the lights. The light of all lights. A mighty star brightening the path of our lives. The glow of her love cast an eternal brightness over the road to our destination.

Robbie Lee (Brown) Means departed this earthly life on Saturday, June 27, 2020 surrounded by loving family at her place of residence. Born on September 16, 1935 in Columbia, South Carolina, she was the beloved daughter of the late Robert W Brown and Mary Emma Dean Brown and the beloved sister of the late Nan B. Lewis, Dorothy B. Garrick, and Ann Davault.

She attended school in Richland County District One and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, class of 1953. Robbie, affectionately known by many as “Honey,” excelled during her high school years in academics.

Soon after high school, she met her beloved Quenby Marvin Means Sr. The two were married on November 18, 1953 and from that union, four children were born; two sons and two daughters. Robbie traveled the world with her military spouse and lived in many locations both abroad and within the U.S, such as Japan, Germany, Colorado, California, New Jersey, Georgia, and North Carolina. While stationed in California, she was a member of the women’s softball team where she played the position of shortstop. Her talents brought scouts looking to sign her to women’s pro-league; however, due to impending relocation, she was unable to accept this offer. She then relocated back to Columbia, South Carolina in 1972 where she served as an entrepreneur and ran the operations of the family grocery store.

Robbie was also a foster parent to over 50 children, making a difference in all of their lives and setting them on the right course with her guidance, mentorship, dedication, and selflessness. She believed that children in foster care were the community’s children, with the same hopes and dreams of all children, and she sought to make those dreams a reality. In short, she was a dedicated mother to not only her own children, but to foster children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many children in the Taylor’s community, in which she played a big role. For many, she was our gift, our teacher constantly shaping the core of how we would later grow to see the world. She loved her role as caretaker. She was known for having a feisty and vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh.

Robbie was a dedicated lifelong member of Second Union Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina.

She was predeceased by her husband Quenby Marvin Means Sr., and her son Quenby Marvin Means Jr.

Mrs. Means leaves to cherish her memory, three children Robin (Means) Harden, of Columbia, South Carolina, Mimi Means, of Columbia, South Carolina, and Robert V. Means, of Columbia, South Carolina; one son-in-law, Michael Wiggs, of Columbia South Carolina; ten grandchildren, Tanisha Means, Alex Means, Sean Means, Robbie Johnson, Andre Johnson, Sumi Nia Means, Bobby Means, Ryan Means, Riley Means, and Daniel Means; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

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