Billy J. Robbins
89, Long Beach
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on May 11, in the Riemann Family Funeral Home Chapel for Billy J. Robbins, 89, of Long Beach, who went to be with the Lord on the morning of May 8. Burial followed in Long Beach City Cemetery. Visitation was held from 9 a.m. until the time of the services on at the Riemann Family Funeral Home. 
His passing freed him from the close to 15-year battle with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He devotedly cared for his wife of 37 years, Frankie Broom Robbins, as she valiantly fought breast cancer for nine years before passing.
He was born in Columbia on Dec. 30, 1933. He graduated from Improve-Petty High School in Columbia in May 1952. He served in the U.S. Army from May 1953 through March 1956 as electronic cryptographic repairman. He served in the U.S. Air Force from December 1956 to December 1960 as an Electronics Cryptographic Technician Instructor. In 1961, he qualified for “Q” clearance with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. He worked at Reynolds Electrical & Engineering Co., Inc. in Hattiesburg from January 1961 to September 1965. In September 1965, he moved his family to Long Beach to work at Struthers Wells in Gulfport. He was employed as Purchasing, Production & Material Control Supervisor until his retirement in December 1995.
He enjoyed fishing, floundering, sports and helping his wife, Frankie, with leading the Girl Scout troop that included his daughter, Debra; and eventually his granddaughter, Robbin’s troop. He was a member of the Long Beach Lions Club International. He was an active member of First Baptist Church Long Beach until after Hurricane Katrina when the dementia and Alzheimer’s took over.
Also, preceding him in death were his parents, Hubert Osro Sr. and Eva Holmes Robbins; grandparents, Bill and Amanda Robbins, who raised him from the age of two after his mother passed away; sister, Irece Simmons; brothers, R.D. Robbins, Hubert O. Robbins Jr. and Lavern Robbins; in-laws, Earl and Vera Kendrick Broom; and brother-in-law, Narvel F. Broom.
Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Debra Robbins Bertucci (Bert) of Long Beach; granddaughter, Robbin Bertucci Johnson (Eric) of Milford, Ohio; great-granddaughter, Breese Georgia Johnson of Milford, Ohio; great-grandson, Davis Joseph Johnson of Milford, Ohio; brother, Doyle Robbins (Anne) of Hattiesburg; sister-in-law, Nelda Robbins Broom; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at Woodland Village who cared for and loved Billy for over seven years. There are too many to personally thank, but you know who you are. We would also like to thank St. Joseph’s Hospice and Riemann Family Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Long Beach, 300 North Cleveland Avenue, Long Beach, MS 39560; St. Thomas Catholic Church, Life Teen, 720 Beach Blvd E, Long Beach, MS 39560; or any charity of your choice.
An online obituary may be viewed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com.
