Norman Royce Brookins, Sr.

Norman Royce Brookins, Sr., 87, of Columbus, Georgia died Tuesday, July 20, 2021 in Colquitt, Georgia. He was surrounded by family and will be dearly missed.

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Friday, July 23, 2021 in the Chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory with Rev. Billy Duncan officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.Interment will be held in Parkhill Cemetery.

Royce was born July 29, 1933 in a modest home in Geneva, AL—the son of the late Benjamin Buckner Brookins and Bessie Hall Brookins. His childhood in Columbus left him with a trove of stories of growing up alongside the Chattahoochee River. He was proud to be the first in his family to graduate from college, working all the while to pay his way, and earning his Bachelor of Science in Textiles from The Georgia Institute of Technology in 1958. He was a proud yellow jacket and a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

He worked for 34 years as a Production Planning Manager at Bibb and Swift Mills, later working in sales at the Louis P. Batson Company. He was a member of Beallwood Baptist Church, a President of the Lions Club, and a Scout Master with the Boyscouts of America. As his children started families of their own, Royce explored many hobbies— a favorite among them— ballroom dance.

He was a curious soul who loved to travel and learn all he could about the subjects and people that interested him. He once surprised his family by announcing he was taking a trip to Egypt and Jerusalem, and while his children were nervous, he arrived home safely. The photo of him riding a camel in front of the Great Pyramids is now a cherished family keepsake. As his grandchildren grew, he was often found picking them up from school, attending their softball and baseball games, or watching them in a play.

Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth “Libby” McNeil Brookins and his son Richard “Ricky” Lee Overby as well as his siblings Willie Lee Brookins, Milton Brookins, Kathleen Brookins Saunders, and Lecie Brookins McGahee.

He leaves behind three adult children: Betty Jane Murdock of Arlington, GA, Norman “Butch” Royce Brookins, Jr. and his wife Stephanie of Columbus, GA, and Linda Joyce Darr and her husband John of Columbus, GA, his grandchildren Ashley Murdock Hathorn and her husband Jay, Rachael Darr Patton  and her husband Tyler, Michelle Darr, Will Murdock, Courtney Darr, Troy Darr, Andrew Brookins, and Olivia Brookins, as well as great-grandchildren; Mac Hathorn, Wilson Patton, Riley Patton, and Carson Darr.

The family is grateful to his caregiver Mrs. Phronia Dixon.  In lieu of flowers, Royce would hope that you will do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for someone in his name.