Royce Alan Pippin

Royce Alan  Pippin, age 57 of Young Harris, Georgia and Bonifay, Florida passed away on January 7, 2022.  Mr. Pippin was born November 11, 1964 in Bonifay, FL to Royce Earl Pippin and Gwendolyn Ruth Pippin. He was preceded in death by father, Royce Earl Pippin; father-in-law, Carthell Hodge; and mother-in-law, Iris Hodge.

He will be warmly remembered by all who knew him, but especially missed by his family: loving wife of 38 years, Patricia Pippin; son, Dr. Jerrid Pippen (Mary); daughter, Hannah Mayorga (Edgar); mother, Gwen Pippin; siblings, Kelly Pippin (Stephanie), Jennifer Glover (Bud), and Dawn Sellers (Ronnie). Also, sharing in his legacy are his grandchildren, Jerrid Pippin II, Leona Pippin, Matthew Pippin, Addison Mayorga, Marcus Mayorga, and Isabella Alana Mayorga.

About Alan, his children said:

“Daddy loved his father, Royce, and mother, Gwen.  Daddy used to tell us how much Pops taught him.  He told us about how much he loved spending time with Maw Maw and Paw Paw as a child, and how much fun a granddaddy Paw Paw was.  He loved his brother, Kelly, and sisters, Jennifer and Dawn.

He started with the Florida Department of Corrections in 1984, at 19 years old.  He took pride in what he did.  He always told us, “if you’re going to do something, do it right.”  He lived by this at work as much as he did at home.  He retired as a warden after thirty years of protecting and serving the public.  He touched so many lives along the way, and he truly loved and cared about so many.

Daddy lived the kind of life a man can be proud of.  He was strong.  He could be fearless.  He was an admired leader and mentor to many.  He showed us the embodiment of integrity.  He always said, “If you tell someone you’re going to do something for them, you do it.”  He was intensely loyal.  He a man you could depend on.  His closest friends thought of him as a brother.  Someone recently said of him, “He could do anything.”  He loved working with his hands.  He took pride in building things that would last.  However, the things he built that meant the most to him, were block towers in the floor with his grandchildren.

Family meant more to daddy than anything.  No one could ever ask for a better daddy.  He coached baseball for years and hardly ever missed a game, even while working nights and weekends and holidays.  He somehow always found a way to be there.  Every day.  He loved watching us play baseball and softball and basketball, and he equally loved watching dance and piano recitals.  He was proud of us.  And of that, he never left any room for doubt.  He loved his grandkids with his whole heart, and they will tell you that he was the best “Pa” ever.  His face has never lit up more than when one of them would reach for him or climb up in his lap.  

Daddy and momma were high school sweethearts.  He never failed to tell her, and more importantly, show her how much he loved and adored her.  They would have soon celebrated 38 years together.  

Most importantly of all, Daddy loved the Lord.  He taught us about his Savior, Jesus, and we take comfort in the fact that we will all see him again in Heaven.

Alan’s life will be celebrated at a memorial service at Gully Springs Baptist Church in Bonifay, Florida.  The service will begin at 2:00 pm CST on Thursday, January 13, 2022.

Arrangements entrusted to the Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville, Georgia.  You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.