Clay Robbins

Clay Robbins, age 101, died Sunday, December 14, 2014 at Magnolia Place in New Albany, MS. He was born April 21, 1913 in Pinedale, MS to James Franklin “Frank” and Betty Poole Robbins. He was the baby of the family and lone survivor of the Robbins siblings, the third son of the family to reach the 100 year mark. He grew up on a small farm, graduated high school at Hurricane High School in 1935, and then worked at the shirt factory in New Albany for a short time before moving to Memphis, TN. His first real job in Memphis was helping to assemble the B-25 Bomber during WWII. Shortly after the war and unemployed, a doctor friend suggested he apply for a job at Baptist Hospital in Memphis. He applied and spent the next 30 years working in the admissions department as its ultimate director. While at Baptist, he met, and ultimately married Marie Sanders of Knoxville. They enjoyed 39 years together and were the parents of Karen and William. As avid fans and supporters of Ole Miss, upon retirement they moved to the Oxford area and enjoyed several years there until the untimely death of Marie in 1988 in an automobile accident. He later married Nellie Hale Russell who died in 2010. He was a member of the Pontotoc Masonic Lodge #81 for 65 years.

Services will be at 2:00 PM Thursday, December 18, 2014 at Bethel Baptist Church in Union County with Rev. Harvey Reeves officiating; burial will follow in the Bethel Cemetery. Browning Funeral Home in Pontotoc is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his daughter: Karen Hill (Ray) of Hernando, MS; one son: William Robbins (Darlene) of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; and three grandchildren: Casey, Hannah and Mason Hill.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and mother of his children: Marie Sanders Robbins, his second wife: Nellie Hale Robbins; his siblings: Linnie, Pearl, Model, Mammie, Byron and Clarence.