Dr. Henry Clifford Mullins, Jr., a resident of Fairhope, Alabama, departed this earthly life peacefully at home on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. Born in Clanton, Alabama, on June 7, 1928, he is predeceased by his parents Henry Clifford and Annie Gragg Mullins, along with his beloved sister Sue Mullins Miller. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 41 years, Norma Corcoran Mullins, his children April Mullins, Henry Clifford “Hank” Mullins, III (Claudia), Charlotte Anne “Missy” Mullins Dorgan, Mary Mullins Redditt (Mark), step-daughter Ashleigh Carter Whitlow and JoAnn Brantley Mullins, mother of his children. He leaves behind five grandchildren, Beth Mullins, Cliff Mullins (Kara), Oliver Dorgan (Sheila), Katie Dorgan, and Austin Whitlow, along with three great-grandchildren, his niece, Susanne Miller Jones (Todd), and a host of extended family, friends and colleagues.
“Moon” had a great zest for life, learning, leadership and adventure. Educated at the University of Alabama and Tulane University Medical School, he had a lifelong passion for all things Tuscaloosa and New Orleans, especially the Crimson Tide and Saints football teams. From 1954 to 1956, he served as a U.S. Army physician and was stationed in Tehran, Iran. Upon returning home, he served in numerous local, state and national leadership positions with the Baldwin County Medical Society, the Medical Association of Alabama, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Mullins was a family physician in private practice in Fairhope for many years along with friends, partners and colleagues Drs. Thomas H. “Tom” Yancey, Ferdinand H. “Bozie” Dietze, and R. H. “Bob” Johnson. He was instrumental in the establishment of Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, the Fairhope Municipal Airport, and the Department of Family Practice at the University of South Alabama Medical School, where he served as Chairman for 16 years. He was a trailblazer in emerging medical technologies, traveling the world with colleagues from England and Australia espousing the value of electronic medical record systems decades before they became widely accepted. Nationally, he consulted with the National Institutes of Health and Crozer-Keystone Health Systems. Locally, Dr. Mullins helped found the South West Alabama Abuse Network (SWAAN) that established remote examinations of child sexual abuse victims in rural Alabama. A natural and passionate teacher, when he was not conducting lectures at the University of South Alabama or national and international conferences, he could be found with flip charts teaching his children. Despite all of these achievements, Dr. Mullins would be most proud to be referred to as a “country doctor.”
The same passion expressed in his profession could also be found in his many avocations including tennis, sailing, travel, hunting and training English Setters for field trial competition. Together with wife Norma, they trained Border Terriers, establishing a local Border Terrier Club where they made many friends across the Southeast.
Later in life, he nurtured and deepened his faith in God and his fellow man through a Christian life based on agape love. He was devoted to racial reconciliation and his Wednesday Bible Study Group that was hosted in his home for a number of years.
Deep gratitude is extended to those who cared for Dr. Mullins and his family in his final days: Reverend Jim Clifford who provided invaluable guidance and caring; Ally Battle and Kayla Barton with Comfort Care Hospice; and Eric Tate, Gina Hall and Xavier Jones who cared for him with dignity and great compassion.
A public visitation was held on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Fairhope, with a Celebration of Life service at Fairhope Christian Church the following day, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. A private interment with family will follow. In lieu of flowers, expressions of condolences may be made to the Fairhope Christian Church or the charity of your choice.
