Carl "PaPa" Mortimer Brinson, Jr., of Panama City Beach and Gulf Breeze, FL, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 10, 2021.

He really wanted to make it to his 200th (92nd) birthday as he would say - he said he was going to be the oldest person alive! He did and we had a small celebration for him on Sunday, December 5th!! Carl was born on December 5, 1929, in Jacksonville, FL.

Carl spent most of his youth in North Augusta, SC and Beech Island, SC. He graduated from North Augusta High School in 1949. In 1950 he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He saw combat during the Korean War for 14 months. Then he was transferred to Yucca Flats, NM where he participated in 5 atomic bomb test explosions. After the Marines he went to the University of Georgia. Dawgs football was very special to him!! He didn't want you to talk to him during a UGA football game!! In 1958, he began his career with SERTA Mattress Co. Eventually, he went to work for Dixie Furniture Company (which later became Lexington Furniture Industry). He worked for them for 36 years retiring on Dec. 31, 1999. He was President of the International Home Furnishings Representative Association for Indiana, Georgia, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Other furniture representatives and owners of the Furniture Stores he called on during his career became family to him. We went on vacation with them, lots of football games, lots of fishing trips, barbecues, and fish fries. Carl even blew up a patio cooking chickens on a grill the size of a twin bed and we had flying chickens!!

After years of being retired, Carl went back to work for several smaller companies. He worked until the end of his life here on earth. His doctor told him working was keeping him going!

Carl loved his family, working, watching GA football games and fishing! He also enjoyed all the years he ushered at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church in Gulf Breeze, FL and then Woodlawn Methodist Church in Panama City Beach, FL.

Carl is preceded in death by his parents, Carl Mortimer Brinson, Sr., Lona Mae LeCroy Brinson Lamar and stepfather, John Cary Lamar; as well as his wife, Sarah Caroline Rountree Brinson.

Carl is survived by Peggy Burnham; children, Marshall Brinson (Lydia Balkom), Connie (Rodney) Randle, and Susan (Mike) Tolbert; grandchildren, Christopher (Jamie) Randle, Sarah (Hunter) Bell, Morgan Tolbert, and Lauren Tolbert; great-grandchildren, Howard (HB) Hunter Lurton Bell, III, Parker Adam Randle, and Bryant Randle Bell; as well as lots of very special friends!

A small Graveside Service will be held 1:30pm Thursday, December 16, 2021, at Barrancas National Cemetery with the Reverend Jack Kale of Central Church officiating. For those wishing to attend, a funeral cortege will line-up a 12:45pm and depart Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel at 12:55pm promptly.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to one of the following: Covenant Care, 5041 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32504, Central Church, Harbourtown Village, 913 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., Unit # 37, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, or Woodlawn Church, 219 N. Alf Coleman Rd., Panama City Beach, FL 32407.

Special thanks to the wonderful, caring nurses and doctors at Bayside Health and Rehabilitation Center, Pensacola, FL and Amy and TK from Covenant Care, Pensacola, FL.