Robin B. Gillespie

March 9, 1956 - April 6, 2022

Robin B. Gillespie was born on March 9, 1956 in Decatur, IL to Doris Etta (nee Hughes) and Alfred Belue Jr.  Given the name Robin Lynn Belue, she was the last of four children and the only girl.  She had three older brothers, Gregory Alan, Eric Dion and Wayne Maurice.  Her cousin Larry Dean Rodgers was also raised with her family at an early age when his own mother passed away.   The family attended Trinity CME Church and Robin served as a Junior Usher, and a youth choir member. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior at an early age. She attended MacArthur High School in Decatur before moving with her mother to St. Louis where she attended Soldan High School and graduated in 1974. She and her family were members of Wayman Temple A.M.E Church on the corner of Kingshighway and Cabanne.   She was a single parent to her daughter, Rusoun Belue, until 1985, when she married her loving and devoted husband, Wayne M. Gillespie. They raised Rusoun together and continued their union until the time of her death.   Robin and her daughter, Rusoun, graduated from St. Louis University and received their diplomas on the same day. Robin earned her Bachelor of Liberal Studies in Social Sciences and went on to earn her Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Lindenwood University.  She had a wealth of professional experiences. However, she discovered her enthusiasm for volunteerism in her position as Manager of Docent Services and Volunteer Program at St. Louis Public Library. She soon joined St. Louis Council of Directors of Volunteer Services where she served as a board member and Program Vice President. She was also Coordinator for Volunteer-Intern Services at Grace Hill Settlement, Inc. In 2016, she began working for St. Louis County as Volunteer Coordinator for the County Older Residents Program. She was in this position at the time of her death. Volunteerism and community involvement was a passion for Robin. She was involved in CORO, Women in Leadership - Graduate Class 25, Docent Council of Metro St. Louis - Member, Jacobs Ladder - Board Member, Mello Tone Ministries - Board Member, Professional Tour Association - Member, St. Louis University Service Leadership - Board Member, St. Louis Council of Directors of Volunteer Services - Board Member & Program Vice President and United Way Certification Committee - Member and St. Louis African Arts Festival - Volunteer Coordinator then Planning Committee Co-Chair.   Robin was easy to love.  She had a desire to make things better for herself and other people. She liked staying busy and she gave every project she was involved in her all. She was always around to share in others problems and to help them find solutions. This quality made her loved by all and she helped others in any way she could. Robin is predeceased by her parents and older brother Wayne Maurice Belue. Robin leaves behind her husband Wayne M. Gillespie, daughter Rusoun Belue (Homer Hudson), brothers Gregory Belue, Eric Belue (Cecilia), Cousin Larry Rodgers (Lillie), mother-in-law Florence Gillespie, brothers-in-law Warren Gillespie, Wesley Gillespie (Felica E.), nieces Talela Belue, Erica Belue, Taylor Gillespie, Morgan Gillespie, Madison Gillespie and nephew Wesley Gillespie Jr. There is a host of relatives and friends that will miss seeing her radiant smile but all are happy to know that Robin is no longer suffering and is resting in God’s loving arms. Donations in Honor of Robin B. Gillespie may be made to the St.Louis African Arts Festival c/o The African Heritage Association of St.Louis, 8816 Manchester Rd., #411, St. Louis, MO 63144 or by visiting the website at www.stlafricanartsfest.com.