Willie (Shorty) Dobbins

Mr. Willie V. Dobbins Jr. was born to the parentage of Wille V. Dobbins Sr and Odessa Lacey on January 25, 1942.  As a young boy, Willie accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior.  He joined Friendship Missionary Baptist Church at a young age.  Willie attended Norris Elementary and then went on to graduate from Norris High School.  He would go on to work with the City of Gadsden and then Wayne’s Farm until he retired. 

He was united in holy matrimony to Catherine Dobbins on April 15, 1966 and they were blessed with seven children. 

Willie departed this life journey on September 2, 2020 at UAB Hospital.  He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, and friend. 

He was preceded in death by his wife (Catherine) and son (Kenneth Dobbins), parents Willie Dobbins Sr and Odessa Lacey, sisters Betty Whiteside and Jennie Suttles, brother Robert Lee, and loving grandparents Sam Ivery and Very Ivery.

Willie leaves cherished memories of his loving children: daughters Melissa Lay and LaShonda Dobbins of Gadsden, Al and Angelicia Leach of Atlanta, Ga; sons Anthony Dobbins, Timothy (Norma) Dobbins, Andre (Bettie) Dobbins, Rodney (Sharmaine) Dobbins, David Dobbins, and Abdul Calloway of Gadsden, Al and Sheldon Calloway of Stamford, CT; special daughters Ella Timmons, Jackie Edwards, and Tamika Washington; sisters-in-law Karen Brown and Lee Brown; brothers-in-law Frank Brown and Benny Brown of Gadsden, Al and Michael Brown and Walter (Shirley) Brown of Detroit, MI. 

He was blessed with thirty-six grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

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