Shari Robbins

The community is reeling from Thursday’s tragic events and mourning the loss of Shari Robbins.

While her name has been in the prayers and thoughts of many, her friends, family and coworkers know exactly what the community lost that morning. A few friends shared their fond memories and recollections of Robbins, giving an inside look into who she was and the memories she helped create.

Halena Moore had been friends with Robbins for about eight years, and said Robbins was well-liked and constantly had a smile on her face. Moore has also worked with Robbins at Heritage Green.

“We would have a little dance off at work, and we lived to joke around,” she said. “She was the strongest woman I have ever met, and she will be missed.”

Moore said she was utterly devoted to her children, and attended all of their football games. She said Robbins was a great mother who lived for her children. They meant everything to her, Moore added.

Essie Sword had been friends with Robbins for three years. Sword was also her next-door neighbor, and she echoed Moore’s sentiments, explaining Robbins was an excellent mother.

“Her kids were her world,” Sword said, adding Robbins worked extremely hard so her children would have nice things. “She was a very hard worker, that’s for sure. She was a lot of fun to be around, and she really loved her kids.”

Sword said she and Robbins would paint each other’s toe nails and would yell out their windows to one another playfully.

“(It was) just a lot of fun living next door to her,” she said.

At one point, the pair found an old ugly garden gnome, and decided to have a little fun with it.

“Shari and I went back and forth hiding it in each others houses,” Sword said.

Robbins was employed at Heritage Ministries as a beautician and certified nurse assistant, according to a recent Facebook post by David Smeltzer, Heritage Ministries executive director. She worked at both the Heritage Green and Heritage Park facilities.

“Not only was Shari and outstanding and compassionate employee, but her mother, April Johnson, has been employed by Heritage for many years. This reality only serves to deepen our pain,” Smeltzer said.