Marion H. Robbins

Statesboro – Marion H. Robbins, Jr., 94, completed his life on Saturday, August 15, 2015, in the home of his daughter and primary care-giver Kandis Robbins. His final days were spent surrounded and supported by family and friends.

M. H. was born on September 20, 1920, to parents Marion H. Robbins, Sr. and Lessie Oree Griner Robbins, at home in Double Heads community of Screven County, eldest of six children. As a young man, he worked with his father, installing Delco power plants at rural homes, providing their first electricity, in years prior to the Rural Electrification Act. He was a ball player, playing on a traveling team and later playing half rubber baseball at every family reunion. During World War II, M.H. served at 28 bases in England, travelling with a special unit to maintain radar equipment in planes to help safeguard fighter pilots.

Following military service, he met and married Bettie Gillis Brooks from Treutlen County, who had been his sister’s college roommate. M.H. and Bettie divided their time between Bulloch and Screven County. M.H. worked in heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical and refrigeration sales and service. Shortly before retirement, he installed large commercial coolers and freezers all over GA.

M.H. was a talented musician and a newspaper columnist. He enjoyed playing guitar and listening to country music. For several years, his stories appeared in a regular column in the Sylvania Telephone Newspaper. Relatives and friends enjoyed poetry he wrote and shared at family gatherings. M.H. also authored a play, “Cross the Creek”, which was produced and enjoyed by his family and friends in 2003.

M.H. Robbins is survived by his wife of 67 years, Bettie Brooks Robbins, their five children: Shari R. Barr (Rick), M. Heyward Robbins III, Kandis Robbins, Kris R. Mikell (Bobby), Kathryn R. Smith (Garry), ten grandchildren: Tasha Fail, Tava Lollis (Joel), Heyward Robbins IV (Heather), John Robbins (Jodi), Tara Stanfield (John), Robert Mikell, Randi Reeves (Josh), Brooks Mikell, Kristin Smith, Tyler Smith and eight great-grandchildren: John Paul Stanfield, Grace Stanfield, Jack Robbins, Parker Robbins, Matthew Reeves, Charlie Stanfield, Bo Robbins and Xan Lollis. M.H. is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Maxine Robbins, his sister-in-law, Jewell Robbins, brother-in-law, Fred Nevils, twenty-three nieces and nephews and many cousins. He was predeceased by siblings, Raymond Robbins, Steve Robbins, Rose Edenfield Nevils and Billy Robbins. In laws who predeceased him were Nelwyn Robbins, Geraldine Robbins, Ted & Inez Lawrence and Nell & Edgar Holton.

Visitation will be at Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home in Sylvania from 6 until 8 on Tuesday, August 18. Funeral will be at Double Heads Baptist Church in Screven County at 2 pm on Wednesday, August 19, with the Rev. Terry Joyner officiating. Burial will follow in the cemetery. The body will lie in state at the church for an hour prior to the service.

Contributions can be made in his memory to organization of the donor’s choice, to Salvation Army or to Disabled American Veterans. M.H. was a longtime supporter of the Salvation Army, because of his appreciation of their services provided in war-torn England.

Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements. www.thompsonstricklandwaters.com