Alphonso Robinson

Quick Facts

Significance:

Chauffeur of Maggie Lena Walker

Place of Birth:

Richmond, Virginia

Date of Birth:

c. 1898-1899

Place of Death:

Richmond, Virginia

Date of Death:

December 2, 1963

Place of Burial:

Richmond Virginia

Cemetery Name:

Woodland Cemetery

Alphonso Robinson served as chauffeur for Maggie Lena Walker for the last 15 years of her life and lived above her garage for almost ten years, becoming like another family member for the Walker family.

Alphonso Robinson (c. 1898/9–1963) served as Maggie L. Walker's chauffeur for about the last 15 years of Mrs. Walker's life. He grew up in the Church Hill neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia, raised by Henry and Sarah Price. Robinson followed Sarah's footsteps by working in a tobacco factory in his youth, but it was Henry's job as a "driver" that most likely led to Robinson's connection with Maggie L. Walker. As Walker's chauffeur, Robinson accompanied her on trips up and down the East Coast, and even operated Walker's in-home elevator after she became paralyzed in the late 1920s. For most of his career as Walker's chauffeur, Robinson also lived with the Walker family, and was even known to have assisted with some of the day-to-day work of the household. 

In 1930, Robinson moved away from the Walkers upon after marrying Helen Fry, but continued as Mrs. Walker's chauffeur for the remaining four years of her life. Following Walker's death in 1934, Robinson worked a variety of jobs but did not work as a chauffeur for anyone else. Still, the significant impact Walker had on Robinson's life was reflected by Robinson's own words the year after Walker passed away: "I considered Mrs. Maggie L. Walker my best friend. I started working for her when I was quite a boy, and she was the only mother that I have ever known, in fact she was more than a mother to me. I have been an anxious servant of hers and have always been willing to serve her at anytime. I really considered it the greatest privilege of my life." Alphonso's words show how Maggie L. Walker  treated her employees as family members and Alphonso is one of the best examples of this relationship.