George Clayton Robbins

On July 23, 2023, we lost a good man. George Clayton Robbins (Gramps to his family) was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. George was born in Pritchard, Alabama on January 16, 1932. He was the only child of Rossi Jack Robbins and Zula Pearl Clayton. When George was 3, his parents divorced. Jack later had two other sons - Sonny and Mickey Sears.

After his parents divorced, Zula worked in the finishing room of a paper mill for ten cents an hour. George went to live with his great aunt Brookie Murray. During his four years on her farm, there was no running water. Electricity arrived by 1938. He remembered picking corn, gathering eggs, growing cotton and making their own sugar out of sugar cane. At age 7, he returned to Zula to start school, first in Mobile and then Chickasaw. He graduated from Murphy High School in 1949.

Jobs were hard to find after graduation so George joined the Coast Guard in 1950 and served during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged and used the benefits from the G.I. Bill to attend Auburn University. Despite a few early struggles with grades, he graduated from Auburn with a degree in business. After graduation, he went to work for AT&T and married his first wife, Nayleen Shydigger. They did not have any children.

Refusing an offer from AT&T to transfer to Mobile, George went to work at Brookley Field doing electrical work. “I put on the jeans, took off the tie and grabbed my tool box.” Brookley Field was closed in 1967 and George transferred to Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio as a GS 11 – Management Analyst. In George’s words, “that covered everything”. In San Antonio, he also became a competitive pistol shooter, a hobby he gave up as age took its toll.

George met his second wife Margaret Elizabeth Robbins (Liz) in 1967 but their first date wasn’t until 1982 at a promotion party at the Flores Country Store. The night started with him at a table with two other women and ended with George and Liz dancing together all night and abandonment of his original two guests. They married in November of that year. They shared a love of casinos, parties and travel including trips to China, Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, the far East and Egypt. He bragged about Liz’s accomplishments, particularly the fact that she retired as a GS 14.

George retired as a GS 13 in February of 1990 and lived in San Antonio until his death. After his retirement, George also shared his time with his grandchildren including driving Christal to visit his Aunt Sarah and watching Jurassic Park five times in one weekend with Victoria.

George had a stroke in 2017 and was forced into a wheelchair. But even a stroke didn’t affect his love of a good cup of coffee, a Cowboys football game or going out to eat with friends and family.

Liz died in 2020 from complications resulting from numerous back and shoulder surgeries. He missed her every day. He moved to Morningside Manor where he made new friends and played an occasional poker game. He enjoyed listening to Alexa (a/k/a Elvira) play music, including finding songs for the staff, friends and family.

George is survived by his children Deborah Daywood Williamson (George) and Kenneth Jeffery Daywood (Terry); grandchildren Christal Elizabeth Murray (Phil), Amber Smith (Bubba), Victoria

Slavic (Jonathan) and Jason Daywood; and four great-grandchildren Nathan Murray, Micah Murray, Eleanor (Nora) Murray and Clayton Slavic. His cousin Billy Brooks was as close as a brother. George was also fortunate in his friends, particularly Wayne and Shannon Simonton, Fred and Ruby Aldrich and Johanna Reynolds. While each of us will miss him every day, we find solace in the memories of his quick smile, his interest in all things football and politics and his great love for all his family and friends. A true extrovert, family and friends will always remember the twinkle in his bright blue eyes when he saw a loved one. He was never happier than in deep conversation with those he held most dear (or anyone, really).

He was faithful in his walk with Jesus Christ. He exemplified the humility, love, and selflessness required of all Christians. In his last years, George found comfort in the thought that he would join those who predeceased him, including his cousin Nancy Faye Brooks Elliott, his mother Zula, and most of all Liz as well as other members of his extended family.

George’s family wishes to thank Dr. Michael Lichenstein for the years of care and compassion he gave both George and Liz. They also appreciate the assistance and laughter shared with Jennifer Esquivel, Teresa Cruz and Shelley Cruz. Shelly, thank you for introducing him to strawberry mango margaritas. Finally, to everyone at Morningside Manor, he loved sharing his music and candy with each and every one of you.

In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest donations to Morningside Ministries - https://www.mmliving.org/giving/donate/ or a charity of your choice.