Pearl N. Robinson, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother and cherished friend, passed away peacefully at home on January 13, 2026 at the age of 93.
She was born on September 28, 1932 to the late Thomas and Ruby Hunley in Jersey City, NJ. She had 12 siblings (Francis, Thomas, Harold, Alice, George, Ruth, Shirley, Carolyn, Linda, Sylvia, Theodore, and Grant) who she loved tremendously and grew up in a loving home. As a child the family planted roots in Morganville, NJ which became the home base for the Hunley family.
In her younger years she enjoyed attending church, cooking, making quilts, knitting, and caring for the animals. Pearl had a pet pig named Trixie who she loved dearly that quickly became a member of the family, which propelled her love for pigs. Pearl was very loving, had a great sense of humor, and had the ability to make friends anywhere which carried her through life.
Pearl attended Bordentown Training School in Bordentown, NJ where she learned the skills of sewing, cooking, hairdressing, and expanded on her knitting skills. She enjoyed her time there where she had fond memories of her friends, especially her best friend Pidge who gave her the name Joey, and all of her experiences.
Pearl married the late Dr. Ralph Robinson in 1956, and they were married for 42 years prior to his passing in 1996. They built a home in Matawan, NJ and that’s where she remained until her passing. They had five children (Ralph Robinson Jr., Martha Holmes, Sidney Robinson, Debra Debblay, and Donna Scales) whom she adored. They made Wicker Memorial Baptist Church their church home where they continued to serve God together. As a family they enjoyed spending quality time and creating beautiful memories, especially while traveling and going camping. She was proud of all of her children’s accomplishments as children and adults.
Pearl worked in the cafeteria at Broad St. School and Lloyd Road Elementary School in Matawan, NJ for approximately 16 years. She then worked at Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, NJ on Telemetry as a personal caregiver for approximately 35 years, where she ultimately retired. She was a cherished coworker who formed meaningful relationships at both locations.
Pearl loved to laugh, shop, spend time with her loved ones, attend social gatherings, bowl, do crosswords, and most of all gardening and yardwork. You could always find her out in her yard making sure the property was always in top shape from sunup to sundown.
She was predeceased by her granddaughter, Rachel, in 2020 and her eldest son, Ralph Jr., in 2023, who always held special places in her heart along with the others.
Pearl leaves behind to cherish her memory 5 siblings (Francis, George, Shirley, Linda, and Sylvia); 4 children (Martha, Sidney, Debra/Ben, and Donna/Gary; Godchildren JoAnn (Butts) Brandon and Harold Hunley Jr.; 7 grandchildren (Shellynn, Shannon, Sean, Torrie, Brandon, Gary, and Joshua); and a host of great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, her beloved dog Kobe, and friends.
Pearl was the matriarch of the family as well as a pillar of the community, and although it is a great loss the family is comforted knowing she has entered the heavenly kingdom and reunited with her loved ones.
