Paul Davis Robbins

TUSCALOOSA – Paul Davis Robbins, age 68, passed away July 20, 2022 at his home. A Celebration of Paul’s life is planned at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 13, 2022 at Memory Chapel Funeral Home with Pastor Scott Moore officiating. There will be a memorial visitation one hour prior to services at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest in Memory Hill Gardens.

Paul Robbins was born June 16, 1954 in Charleston, South Carolina, the son of Jack B. Robbins and Constance Knott Robbins of New Albany, Mississippi. He grew up in South Carolina, Alabama, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Virginia, Missouri, then finally back to Virginia as his father, an Air Force officer, was transferred from one assignment to another. He graduated in 1972 from the W. T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, Virginia. Paul loved playing baseball, basketball, football, and wrestling. He was always competitive, tough, tenacious, and aggressive. At Belton High School in Missouri, he finished 2nd in the state wrestling tournament in the 126 lb. class. As a football player at Woodson, he was an undersized 165 lb. nose guard, but he was quick and mean. His playing style was to hit first and hit hard. Paul headed to Tuscaloosa in the fall of 1972 to attend the University of Alabama. He never left. He loved the University and Tuscaloosa and it was here that he found his true calling: coaching youth sports. In Coach Paul’s own words:

“Working with the youngsters in our community became my hobby, my avocation. I taught the youngsters the value of hard work and preparation. Our players learned that if you are willing to put forth the extra effort, you can overcome obstacles and enjoy success. Through these youth sports programs, I began to realize that it was the relationships developed with the youngsters and their families that really mattered to me.”

Over the past half-century, Paul held a variety of jobs, all here in Tuscaloosa. He was the sports director at the Tuscaloosa YMCA, a realtor, a home builder, and a business manager. For many years, he was the co-owner of Super Sports Sporting Goods in Tuscaloosa. Paul could be stubborn and bull-headed sometimes, but he could outwork anyone. Most of all, he was loved by his family and friends because of his generosity and kindness. As we celebrate his life, we can think about all the lives he touched and enriched.

Paul was predeceased by his mother and father, brother Mark (Grace) Robbins, sister Kittye Delle (Stuart) Robbins-Herring and is survived by his brother Jack (Hannelore) Robbins of Tuscaloosa, nephew Davis (Angela) Herring and their children great nephews Ethan and Owen Herring of Los Alamos, New Mexico, niece Mary Elizabeth Robbins of Annandale, Virginia, and nephew Mark Joseph Robbins of Vienna, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: A youth sports organization of your choice or to the Jack and Constance Robbins Endowed Scholarship Fund, The University of Alabama College of Arts and Sciences, PO Box 870269, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.