Marian Robinson

Marian Robinson
Born
Marian Lois Shields

(1937-07-29)July 29, 1937
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMay 31, 2024(2024-05-31) (aged 86)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Known forU.S. First Lady Michelle Obama's mother
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1960; died 1991)​
ChildrenCraig Malcolm Robinson (b. 1962)
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson (b. 1964)
Parent(s)Purnell Nathaniel Shields
Rebecca Jumper
RelativesBarack Obama (son-in-law)
Malia and Sasha Obama (granddaughters)

Marian Lois Robinson (née Shields; July 30, 1937 – May 31, 2024) was the mother of Michelle Obama and mother-in-law of President Barack Obama. She was the last living grandparent of Malia and Sasha Obama. She also has one granddaughter, Leslie Robinson, and two grandsons, Avery and Austin Robinson, from her son, Craig Robinson.

According to her youngest brother Steve Shields, Robinson was the fourth of seven children—five girls, followed by two boys. Her father was a house painter and her mother was a licensed practical nurse.[1]

Robinson married Fraser Robinson on October 27, 1960. She is now a widow.[2] In addition to their daughter Michelle, they also had a son, Craig. Craig is the current coach of the Oregon State University men's basketball team. Robinson was formerly a secretary for mail-order retailer Spiegel and at a bank.[3] While Michelle and Barack Obama campaigned in 2008, Robinson cared for her granddaughters. Early in January 2009, it was reported that Robinson would move into the White House with the rest of the First Family (the president's family), so that she could continue to care for her granddaughters.[4] She was the first grandmother to live in the White House since Elivera M. Doud during the Eisenhower administration. Some news agencies have called Robinson the "First Granny."[5][6]

Robinson died on May 31, 2024 in Chicago, aged 86.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Skiba, Katherine (March 8, 2010). "First grandma keeps low profile". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on April 14, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  2. ↑ LoBello, Lia (July 2, 2008). "First Families: Radar introduces you to the next president's relatives". Radar. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  3. ↑ Saslow, Eli (February 1, 2009). "From the Second City, An Extended First Family". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  4. ↑ Swarns, Rachel L. (January 9, 2009). "Obama's Mother-in-Law to Move Into the White House". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  5. ↑ Sherwell, Philip (January 14, 2009). "Michelle Obama persuades First Granny to join new White House team". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Will Obama mum-in-law make it a family affair in the White House?". Agence France Presse. November 22, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  7. ↑ O'Donnell, Kelly; Lee, Carol E. (May 31, 2024). "Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, dies at 86". NBC News. Retrieved May 31, 2024.

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