Paul Edwin Brensfield

Paul Edwin Brinsfield

1947-2025

Have you heard the one about Paul Brinsfield?

   The beloved storyteller began most of his tales with this line; and in the early morning hours of Monday, November 10, 2025 Paul became whole, received peace and met Jesus, who is no doubt being regaled with Paul’s famous stories. Paul’s last years were spent in Columbia, Tennessee where he moved in 2020. Rhonda, his loving wife of 55 years was by his side from meeting at Troy until Paul’s last breath. He is also survived by his two sons, Brian and Kevin, his beloved grandchildren, Marisa, Brady, Katie, and twins Aubrey and Sadie; younger brother David, sister-in-law, Nancy, his niece, Kelli, nephew, Richard, their children; and his brother-in-law, Randy. Paul had a very large but close family of cousins throughout the country that he loved very much.

   Paul was born to the late James Edwin and Jean Stone Brinsfield on February 4,1947 in Atlanta, Georgia where he grew up with his extended family on Glendale Drive. His grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and too many animals lived together on one street, the impetus for many of his famous stories he was known to tell.

Have you heard the tales about Paul’s athleticism, family and music ability?

   A gifted athlete, Paul played several sports growing up, winning state titles in baseball and football at Avondale High School during both his junior and senior years. After graduating in 1965, he attended The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on a football scholarship where he played one year and met his future Troy State teammate, Danny Grant. In the fall of 1966, both Paul and Danny transferred to Troy State University in Troy, Alabama, where Paul was a four-year starter and a member of the 1968 NAIA National Championship Team, earning All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-American titles during the 1967-1969 seasons. Alabama Governor Albert P. Brewer bestowed an honorary commission into the Alabama State Militia as lieutenant colonels for the Troy team.

   While at Troy, he met his wife, Rhonda in 1968; and in 1970, they were married in Bay Minette, AL. The two moved to Phenix City, AL, where Paul taught history and coached football and baseball. In 1972, the young couple moved to Greensboro, NC, where Paul worked for his uncle, Buddy Brinsfield at Brinsfield Datsun, part of Brinsfield Motors as a salesman and a manager. In 1973, Paul and Rhonda welcomed their oldest son, Brian; and in 1976 they moved to Baldwin County, AL, where Paul and Rhonda lived until moving to Tennessee in 2020.

   Kevin was born in 1978, and the Brinsfield family lived in Spanish Fort, AL until 1993, when they moved to Fish River. Paul often spent Saturdays pulling skiers behind their boat, earning a sunburned face that contrasted with his premature white hair. On Sundays he was easy to spot in the middle of the back row of the Old Spanish Fort Baptist Church Choir.

   From 1978 to 1995, he owned Independent Insurance Agencies selling property and casualty insurance to businesses all across the Gulf Coast. In 1994, Paul and Rhonda, together with Gary and Debbie Crigler, bought and renovated a 1927 house, creating Olde Towne Daphne's Camillia Café for breakfast and lunch.

   In 2010, Brian married and gained three stepchildren that would give Paul his first grandparent name “Grandpa” by Brady. He loved to watch Marisa twirl in the band, Brady play football or run track, and Katie cheer while Brian coached on Friday nights. Kevin’s twins, Aubrey, and Sadie were born in Nashville in 2011, and that would be the catalyst that would bring Paul and Rhonda north to Columbia in 2020. The girls named Paul “Paw-Paw.” Paul and Rhonda were able to spend time with the girls at holidays, birthdays, or just taking them to the zoo. Paul loved taking his girls shopping, going to historical landmarks, aquariums and seeing them excel in school subjects like art and science.

   Paul was as musical as he was athletic. He loved playing the guitar and singing, but not in front of an audience, so if you happened to catch him playing with John Anderson, you got to hear him sing. They loved to sing gospel and country music and harmonize together. You could also catch them laughing and cutting up singing different harmonies in the choir at times. John always stood right in front of Paul, and the pair created their unique brand of stand-up humor often performing for church banquets and for anyone who would laugh at their antics, which was often just the two of them and their wives Rhonda and Brenda while embarrassing all of their children. Paul coached his two boys and countless other young kids in youth sports of all kinds. He was an RA counselor at church for the boys and hated the Annual Winter FREEZE OUT, an all-weekend camping trip to the woods of Atmore. Yet, he still attended for the sake of the kids who wanted to go. He never missed Brian and Kevin’s basketball, baseball and football games. Paul was easy to spot as he watched with a smile on his face, especially if he had been to Ben Jr’s and enjoyed a hamburger before the game. He loved woodwork, a hobby he learned later in life from his close friends and his cousin Stevie “Doc” Brinsfield.

   Paul loved being around people of all ages. In Tennessee he volunteered at The Church at Station Hill the Church at West End with children needing extra care while their parents worshipped. These children would light up when seeing Mr. Paul, a gentle giant who made Sunday mornings fun and special instead of stressful. He also volunteered at a local nursing home by leading games and song. Wherever the fun was to be had, Paul was in the center of the good time.

Have you heard the TRUTH about Paul’s heart for God?

   More than anything, Paul loved Jesus; and this was reflected in all he did. He was baptized as a young boy of 12. His life was an example of what it meant to be a Christ follower. Always humble, Paul was the first to point out his own faults and say that he was not perfect; but because of Jesus’s example of love by dying on the cross, that he was forgiven. He strove daily to love his neighbors and love the Lord with all of his heart, his mind, his soul and his strength. You could not look at or talk to Paul Brinsfield without seeing the love of God manifested in human form. He was a provider, a protector, a teacher, a nurturer, a listener, and most of all a friend.

   If you were blessed to meet Paul Brinsfield during his 78 years of life, his large size was probably the first attribute you noticed. The second would be his heart for others and for Jesus. God most likely created Paul’s mountainous frame to carry that big, big heart. Paul went by many names and titles; son, brother, husband, Dad, Paw Paw, Grandpa, uncle, cousin, friend, teacher, coach, counselor, Mr. Paul, Bubba, Beaver, #54. But the name that Paul Edwin Brinsfield will be remembered for the most is Child of the King. He is whole, not hurting, full of life, reunited with his parents and infant daughter, Tracy, for eternity. Paul Brinsfield was, and is, loved always.

   The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to The Church at Station Hill and The Church at West End in Columbia, Tennessee, where He and Rhonda attended, for their love, support, and prayers.

   A service and time of gathering to remember Paul will be held on December 6 in Daphne, Alabama, at Eastern Shore Baptist Church from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., or until we get done talking.

   The family would also like to give a special thank you to Monica Anderson Young and Mike Hayes.