 Born Jane Ellen Dickison on June 26, 1919, as the daughter of Clarence Anson Dickison (July 28, 1878 – February 8, 1965), a school teacher, who in 1924 became Compton's first mayor and the former Meda Kelso (October 2, 1885 – July 31, 1962).Both of her parents are natives of the state of Missouri.She met her future husband, Compton Police Officer Robert Robbins on a blind date.