Madison High principal, who died suddenly, remembered; 'cannot be replaced'

MARSHALL - Though classes and the night's basketball games were cancelled, the Madison High gymnasium was full Jan. 31 as students, staff and community members honored the school's principal David Robinson, who died Jan. 25.

Robinson, who was 54, suffered a heart attack while helping load buses the afternoon of Jan. 25 and was taken to Mission hospital where he later died. He was funeralized Jan. 31.

He was in his third year as MHS principal and served as principal of Madison Early College from 2010-15, followed by a stint as principal of School of Inquire and Life Sciences at Asheville.

Robinson was a lifelong resident of Mars Hill, living on Gabriel's Creek Road his entire life. He served as songleader at Gabriel's Creek Baptist Church. He also coached boys and girls basketball, football and baseball at Madison Middle School and coached the girls junior varsity basketball and the baseball team at Madison High.

"He loved his students. He took an interest in those that he came in contact with — it didn't matter who," Rev. Gary Coates, a pastor at Gabriel's Creek Baptist Church, said during the funeral. "He had no favorites. Everyone was his favorite."

Robinson was a 1986 graduate of Madison High and began his education career at Madison Middle School in 2007-08.

"I so much loved this man. He was such a great part of my life," Coates said. "He was such a great part of the church. There's holes that can be filled, but they cannot be replaced. This is not a funeral service. This is a graduation ceremony. This is a celebration of the life of David, that he lived here on this earth."

More: Madison High principal David Robinson dies unexpectedly Jan. 25

Robinson was a gifted musician and often times would bring a guitar to school to sing along with students. He founded a gospel group with Steve Garrison and Charlie Stanton called "Homeward Bound." Robinson sang and played guitar in the band.

The group played "That's What My Lord Has Done for Me" to open the ceremony.

Rev. Sam Adams, who Robinson's daughter Audra's father also spoke at Robinson's funeral.

"When my time comes it'd be real nice if people have to say about Sam Adams some of the wonderful, marvelous, loving things I've heard them say about David," he said. "I believe he understood what manner of person he should be.

"In the months to come, it's going to be hard to take the edge off of it. But you'll get there. You can't quit. You've got to stay after it," Adams told the crowd.

Middle Cross, a gospel group based in Western North Carolina, performed three songs at the ceremony.

"Today we celebrate his homecoming. I can't preach his funeral," Coates said. "David already preached his funeral. His life was his funeral. We don't have to question whether or not Dr. Robinson was a child of God."

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Madison High School principal funeralized, 'cannot be replaced'