My uncle passed away this last week.
His name was Bobby Hubert Terrell.
I called him Uncle Bob.
Jumping on a jet to Alabama to make the funeral felt like too big of a deal on too short of a notice – but I just knew it was just the right thing to do.
I am so glad I made the trip.
The service was beautiful and it was good to see aunts and uncles and cousins that I had not seen in years.
My favorite part of the trip was that I stayed up all night long talking and telling stories with a small group.
It was a sweet and special time that I will not forget.
I just love that my family in Alabama is so kind and hospitable.
(It’s easy not to be.)
But they all always make me feel so dearly welcome…And I am so thankful for that.
I remember my Uncle Bob the most fishing with him and my father.
We would end up in some muddy pond owned by some friend of his.
And we would spend the heat of the afternoon luring brim out of the dark water.
By evening, most of the fish would be clean and Uncle Bob would put on a big fish-fry.
I remember eating hushpuppies until I was stuffed and marveling at the big house and big family I had.
Often we would stay up until all hours of the night playing Spinner.
Everyone would get quieter as the night wore on and we would eventually head off to bed one by one.
I have special memories of those hot summer nights so long ago.
The program handout at the service said:
Bobby Hubert Terrell
June 21, 1936 – April 18, 2021
Celebration of Life – Thursday, April 22, 2021
Walnut Street Church of Christ
Celebration of Life
Welcome – Charles Box, Minister
An Outstanding Life – Jordan Alker
“Sing and be Happy”
“No Tears in Heaven”
Prayer – Dr. Michael Turner, Amridge University
“Our Daddy Bob” – Grandchildren
Specail Tribute – Charles Box
Pall Bearers & Honorary Pall Bearers:
Grandsons: Spencer Sirmon, Dewey Brannon, Brannon Sirmon, Dr. Matthew Mabery, Dr. Micheal Antonetti, Leith Greene
“Like Sons”: Bruce Cauthen, Jeff Harris Willie Works
“Like Brothers”: Mike Bagents, Wheeler Chance, Boyd Foster, Dennis Lowery, Lomax Owens, Dennis Phillips, Jim Till
Favorites
Quotes:
“I’m outstanding”
“Who we waitin’ on?”
“You gotta draw what you need.”
“Where’s Bruce?”
“Hey sports fans!”
“I like plenty of butter.”
“If I could sit behind me, I would win every time!”
“I just can’t understand it.”
“I’m gonna tell you just one more time…”
Daughter-in-Law:
Dixie Dale Newman Brannon
Hobbies:
Fishing, Playing Tennis, Playing Cards, Traveling, Selling, Cooking, Eating
Bible Verses:
ALL OF THEM
TV Shows:
Any Westerns, Most Sports, Fox News
Recipe:
Daddy Bob’s World-Famous Monkey Bread
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease fluted Bundt pan. Pour 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in large plastic food storage bag and mix. Put 1-1/2 sticks of butter and 1 cup dark brown sugar in bowl and melt. Take 2 cans of biscuits (16.3 oz. each) and cut in quarters, put in large plastic bag with cinnamon and sugar. Shake well to coat each piece, and place in Bundt pan. Spoon melted butter and brown sugar over biscuits. (Place in oven for 30 minutes – take pan out and let set for a minute and then turn upside down unto serving plate and eat, eat, eat.)
1/2 c. Sugar
1 t. Cinnamon
2 Cans 16.3 oz. Refrigerated Biscuits
1 c. Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
1-1/2 Sticks Butter, Melted
REAL LIFE HERO BOBBY TERRELL
We don’t usually publish stories about living individuals, but we had a request from a BCHGS member who thought our readers would like to know a little about this local hero.
Bobby Hubert Terrell was born June 21, 1936, the son of Hubert L. Terrell and Dorothy Wiginton. Many of our readers may remember Bobby’s sister Gloria Terrell, and his brothers, Tommy Terrell and Joe Frank Terrell. Bobby attended Greenville High School, and while there was an outstanding running back for the Greenville Tigers football team during the early 1950’s. He led Greenville to a 9-0-1 record in 1953 and the Birmingham News Class AA state championship. During that season, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and averaged 7.95 yards per carry.
Bobby also played on the Greenville High School basketball team. Although Greenville High didn’t have a tennis team, Bobby was a very good tennis player who was always willing to help younger and inexperienced players improve their game.
Bobby was named a high school All-American and signed a football scholarship with Auburn University, but his playing career was cut short by a severe knee injury. He went on to become a basketball and tennis stand-out at Troy State University. Bobby was listed in the 1959 Palladium Yearbook as a 5’9″ guard on the Troy basketball team.
He was inducted into Greenville High School’s Hall of Fame on October 26, 2012 and received a Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award from Troy State University on October 5, 2013. Immediately frollowing graduation from Toy in 1959, he coached football and girls’ basketball in Blakely, Georgia, before going to work for GMAC in Lake City, Florida.
In April 1963, Bobby married widow Mary Lou Edenfield Brannon in Columbia County, Florida, and he moved back to Greenville with his new bride in 1966. Bobby worked with American Seating Company until 1974, when he and Mary Lou opened Pasquale’s Pizza, the best Italian restaurant ever. I wish it were still open.
Then, in 1975, Bobby started another company, Terrell Enterprises, Inc., which provided schools with quality furniture and fixtures. Bibby would spend many days (and nights) delivering tables, installing stools, and hanging window shades while Mary Lou managed “the books” in the small office of their pizza parlor. Bobby has since retired, and his son, Al Brannon, has taken over the family business with the same dedication to product quality and customer service.
Bobby and Mary Lou have four children and numerous grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. The couple are lifetime members of the Troy Alumni Association and active members of the Butler County Alumni Chapter. And if you happen to attend a Troy basketball game or football game any time soon, you won’t have to look very hard to find Bobby there cheering on his beloved Trojans.
Bobby Terrell is not just a hero from the field of sports, but a hero in many other areas as well. Bobby is an excellent cook, but many people are probably not aware of the many home-cooked meals he has delivered to ill or house-bound residents. Some people may not know that he is a lifetime member of the FDA Slam Dunk Club at Fort Dale Academy due to his dedication and service to the school’s basketball team. He has coached little league baseball teams; he has been a member of the Jaycees and the Elk’s Club; he is an elder in his church; and he has made annual mission trips to Guyana, South Africa, for twenty-two years.
Yes, I’d say Bobby Terrell is a real life hero!
Previously written by Judy Atkins Taylor
For Butler County Historical Geological Society.
