This record follows the correspondence of Rev. Morrell and Lois Robinson to Lois’s parents over the years of 1956-1960, during their duration as missionaries in Mayarí, Cuba. The weekly letters cover both personal news and local events. Also included is a scrapbook album of the family in Cuba and Florida from 1952-1964 with newspaper clippings, invitations for special events, and church service programs.
Morrell Steed Robinson was born to Samuel Craven Robinson and Belle Steed Robinson on May 12, 1927, in Birmingham, Alabama. He decided on a vocation of ministry while growing up in the Methodist Church in Florida. Morrell graduated from Emory University in 1947 and from Candler School of Theology in 1950 after majoring in New Testament Studies.
Lois Augusta Robinson (née Lerch) was born June 2, 1931 to Donald and Elsie Lerch. Lois met Morrell while he was an associate pastor at First Methodist Church, Clearwater, Florida. They were married on August 26, 1952. Lois completed her nursing degree from Emory University. The couple applied to work as missionaries through the Methodist Board of Missions and were assigned to Mayarí, Cuba. Lois, Morrell, and fourteen month old Morrell Jr. (Steed) moved in February 1956. Their second and third children (Esther and George) were born in Cuba in 1956 and 1959, respectively. They served in Mayarí, Cuba until May of 1960. Morrell served as a pastor and Lois as the director of the Churchwell Clinic. They were present during armed conflict in the mountains around Mayarí at the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.
After their work in Cuba, Morrell and Lois returned to the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church until his retirement in 1991. In that time, Morrell served as pastor at Tampa Heights United Methodist Church in Tampa, Allapattah United Methodist Church in Miami (1967 -1971), and later became Urban Minister to Miami (1973 to 1979). Morrell and Lois were outspoken in favor of civil rights and the rights of LGBTQIA+ people. Morrell received recognition for his participation in the cause of peace and justice from the Coalition for Arms Limitation and Survival in 1979, and he received the Plumbline Award from the Florida Methodist Federation for Social Action in 2002.
Morrell passed away July 18, 2020.
