Port Royal mourns loss of community pillar Henry Robinson, a homegrown kid who made history
Former Port Royal Mayor Henry “Luck” Robinson, whose career in local politics spanned five decades, died Friday at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, according to his family and The Serenity Mortuary-Historic Beaufort Chapel. He was 88.
Robinson was Port Royal through and through, growing up in the town along Battery Creek, where he often fished for crab. He was the second of 14 children born to Elizabeth and William Robinson. He became a tailor who worked at the Port Royal U.S. Marines base at Parris Island — where he delighted in designing dress blues for the bulldog that served as the Marine mascot.
“You were a wonderful mayor and a great fisherman and crabber,” Councilwoman Mary Beth Grey Heyward said of Robinson in a Facebook tribute. “You get on up there to heaven and let them show you where the big fish are and rest in peace my friend.”
Robinson’s history-making career in local politics was launched after members of his church, Union Baptist, asked him to run for the Port Royal Town Council. It was 1969 and Robinson was 32 years old. No African American had ever run for the Town Council much less won. Robinson became the first on both counts.
He served for eight years. Later, he decided to run for mayor. He won again and would remain the town’s leader for 18 years before retiring — the first time — in 1995.
Darryl Owens, a current member of the Town Council, considered Robinson a staunch supporter, friend and mentor. Robinson, he said, was not a big talker but he was known for writing thought-provoking op-ed pieces that were published regularly in Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet.
“Definitely a great man and a pillar in the Port Royal community,” Owens said. “He will deeply be missed.”
Robinson cared deeply for the town’s people, Owens said, and treated everybody the same. The town’s special environment in the Lowcountry marshes and rivers was equally important to Robinson, Owens said.
“He wanted to see Port Royal remain community friendly,” Owens said. “Growth is inevitable but he wanted to preserve and protect the natural beauty and aspect of Port Royal particularly the waterways.”
Robinson, an avid fisherman who enjoyed crabbing, could often be found at the popular Sands Beach boardwalk that bears his name even after an accident left him wheelchair bound.
Robinson was excited about seeing the reconstruction of the boardwalk, which was damaged in September by Tropical Storm Helene, Owens said, but never got the chance.
After Robinson retired from the Town Council in 1995, he was coaxed to run again in 1999, and went on to serve another 12 years. All told, he served on the council for 38 years and was 75 years old when he left local politics for good in 2011.
“I have really appreciated serving the people and the citizens in the town of Port Royal, and I would still like to serve,” he said during his farewell speech. “If you all would like to appoint me to a board, let me know.”
A tailor, Robinson worked for 50 years for the John Demosthenes Co. on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. One of his fondest accomplishments was designing and creating dress blues for the base’s bulldog mascot.
Over the years, Robinson served on the Lowcountry Council of Governments, S.C. Municipal Association board of directors, S.C. Conference of Black Mayors, Robert Smalls Alumni Association, Beaufort County Foster Parents Association and the White House Forum Committee during President Jimmy Carter’s administration.
Robinson was succeeded as mayor in 1995 by Sam Murray, the town’s second African American mayor. Murray died in November 2022.
“I think he has been instrumental in bringing the town together, bringing all sections of town together and working as one, instead of having one side against another,” Murray said of Robinson, when Robinson retired from the Town Council for good in 2011.
Remembering Henry Robinson
A public viewing is from 6-8 p.m. Friday at The Serenity Mortuary-Historic Beaufort Chapel, 613 - 611 Carteret Street, Beaufort. A celebration of life service is at noon Saturday at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 901 Craven Street, Beaufort.
This story was originally published January 6, 2025 at 12:53 PM.
