Bettie Gillis Brooks Robbins

Statesboro – Bettie Gillis Brooks Robbins, 89, died suddenly Dec 31, surrounded by her children, after a short illness and a long fruitful life. Born to Addie Gillis Brooks and Ulin H Brooks, she grew up in rural Treutlen County, the adored darling of two much older sisters and a house full of maternal aunts and uncles, who lived just across the branch. Her earliest memory was of chasing new baby goslings at Uncle Archie's when Aunt Mag and Aunt Leorie had to rescue her from an attack of the protective papa goose. During high school she was a cheerleader, played basketball and formed lifelong friendships with some of her classmates from her Soperton High School Class of 1947.

She attended Georgia State Teachers College where she met her roommate's brother, who became the love of her life. During their sixty-seven year marriage, she and M H Robbins divided their time between Screven and Bulloch Counties, until his death in 2015. She co-founded the Pass Time Sewing Club where members formed bonds that lasted over decades. M H built a separate structure in their back yard, which was dubbed the "Pickin' Parlor." Here they hosted many gatherings for pickin', singing and enjoying country music with friends and family. They were long term members of Double Heads Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School class.

In addition to mothering her own five children, Miss Bettie nurtured unnumbered other children through early Head Start programs and then her own nursery school, Little Acorns. Creative and multi-talented, she enjoyed various other occupations including visiting friends and neighbors as their Avon lady, helping customers at Medical Center Pharmacy and answering the phones with flair at the local Wal-Mart. A born story teller, Miss Bettie relished sharing old family tales and finding connections with others. She recently completed a nonfiction creative writing course where classmates delighted in hearing her colorful memories.

Bettie B Robbins is survived by her five children, Shari R Barr, M Heyward Robbins III, Kandis Robbins, Kris Robbins Mikell (Bobby) and Kathryn Robbins Smith (Garry), her ten grandchildren Tasha Fail, Tava Lollis (Joel), M Heyward Robbins IV (Heather), John Robbins (Jodi), Tara Stanfield (John), Robert Mikell, Randi Reeves (Josh), Brooks L Mikell, Kristin Smith and Tyler Smith, and nine great-grandchildren John Paul Stanfield, Grace Stanfield, Jack Robbins, Matthew Reeves, Parker Robbins, Charlie Stanfield, Bo Robbins, Xan Lollis and Henry Reeves, as well as sister and brother in law Maxine and Jerry Robbins, sister in law Jewel Robbins, brother in law Fred Nevil and many nieces and nephews.

Predeceasing her were her husband Marion H Robbins, Jr and her two sisters and their husbands Inez and Ted Lawrence and Nell and Edgar Holton.

The funeral service will be at 2 pm Saturday, Jan 5, at Double Heads Baptist Church on Captola Road and Hwy 301 in Screven County, with family visitation during the hour preceding the service. Burial will be after the service in the adjacent cemetery. The Rev Max Alderman will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that those who want to make memorial gifts consider donations to the Christian Social Ministry (Ogeechee River Baptist Association, 17 N College, Statesboro 30458), Friends of the Library (P O Box 1265, Statesboro, 30459) or organizations of the donor's choice.

Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home is entrusted with final arrangements. www.thompsonstricklandwaters.com