ROBERT “BOB” CALDWELL SNEAD, JR.
OCTOBER 12, 1951 – JULY 28, 2018
ROBERT “BOB” CALDWELL SNEAD, JR., age 66, passed away on July 28, 2018, peacefully with his devoted wife at his side, after a courageous and tenacious battle against prostate cancer. He is survived by his wife Debbie Robinson Snead, and children Robby Robinson (Sandy) and Perrin Robinson Makofski (Todd), grandchildren, Taylor Robinson, Robert Makofski and Raylan Makofski; and goddaughters, Whitney Allen Heaps, Rachel Dennis Meador, Jamie Mangina and Sarah Bowron. He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Caldwell Snead, Sr., and his mother, Julia Snead Kingston. He adored Debbie and the family that she brought him, proudly bragging and showing off his children and grandchildren. He is also survived by literally hundreds of friends and companions with whom he swapped stories, boat rides, hilarity and sunsets.
Bob was born and raised in Centre, Alabama. Growing up, one of his proudest moments was being awarded the Eagle Scout. He embraced those high values and lessons throughout his own life. After graduating from Cherokee County High School, he attended Jacksonville State University. He excelled at JSU and had the honor of serving as class officer, student council member, and Class Favorite. Bob was a member Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and served as president of his chapter. He graduated in 1972, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History.
Bob attended Repperts School of Auctioneering in 1974. He absolutely loved being an auctioneer, starting with farm equipment and seed auctions, and then in later years, using his skill as a charity auctioneer. He had the ability to make people willingly and happily give it up for a good cause and was a much-sought after personality for charity auctions.
Bob attended Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, but when his father passed away, he returned to Centre to run his father’s tractor business. Determined to be as successful as Caldwell, Bob traveled around the country to tractor shows for International Harvester, and switched from talking legalese to talking farming, and he largely succeeded. He eventually returned to Birmingham to finish his law degree at Birmingham School of Law.
He practiced law in Birmingham from 1982 until his death. He thoroughly enjoyed lawyers and the storytelling that went with the profession and got along with just about every lawyer he ever met. He had a keen acumen for detecting a fraud and would not suffer a liar, either in his own client or the adverse party.
Before he was a lawyer, auctioneer, husband and dad, and everything else he became, he was a Cherokee County boy – those roots are deep and strong and are the foundation for his values and character. He believed that Weiss Lake in Centre was the best place to be. He loved where he came from. He was most at peace sitting on the screened-in porch above the lake at the end of the day with family and friends. He showed loyalty, kindness, bravery, respect, and courtesy to everyone. He enjoyed humanity, fun and a good story better than most, and was always willing to share a bag of Sand Mountain tomatoes and time in the day, and in return he reaped friendships that lasted all his life. His family is deeply grateful for those friends.
Pallbearers are Rob Conner, Mark Mansfield, Bill Hayes, Tommy Bradley, Andy Ellis, Bobby Allen, Jim Kennedy, and Tom Thrash. Visitation will be at Ridout’s Valley Chapel in Homewood on Tuesday, July 30 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m., with a service following, officiated by Rev. Melvyn Salter, with graveside service on Wednesday, July 31, at 1:00 p.m. at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Centre, Alabama, officiated by Rev. Melvyn Salter. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donation to the Mike Slive Foundation for Prostate Cancer Research, Birmingham, AL, www.MikeSliveFoundation.org.