Gadsden-native Judge Bobby Mac Junkins passes away
The longtime probate judge and former legislator devoted decades to public service, education and preserving Gadsden’s history.
Judge Bobby Mac Junkins died peacefully at his home on Saturday, October 3, 2026, surrounded by family.
Born in Gadsden and raised in Hokes Bluff, Junkins was the son of the Rev. L.D. and Grace Tedder Junkins, whom he always named as the greatest influence on his life. He graduated from Hokes Bluff High School and was proud to be part of the first class to attend Gadsden State Junior College. He went on to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees from Jacksonville State University and did advanced graduate work at the University of Alabama and the University of Kentucky.
Junkins spent his life in public service. He began as a teacher and adult educator, then gave 18 years to the city of Gadsden, including service as director of the Gadsden Public Library, where the Bobby M. Junkins Alabama Room now bears his name. He went on to serve two terms representing District 30 in the Alabama House of Representatives, where his peers named him one of the outstanding legislators of 1984-1985. Elected Etowah County probate judge in 1988, he took office in 1989 and was reelected four more times, serving 30 years until his retirement in 2019. The Alabama Law Institute chose him as one of four probate judges to help rewrite Alabama's election laws. He counted serving the public as his greatest accomplishment, and he credited his success "to the good Lord, the lessons of his failures, his teachers, and the dedicated employees who worked alongside him."
He was a past president of the Alabama Probate Judges Association and the Gadsden Kiwanis Club. He served on the boards of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, the Alabama Historical Commission, the Alabama Men's Hall of Fame, Alabama State University, the Jacksonville State University Board of Visitors, the Gadsden State Community College Foundation, the Gadsden Public Library Foundation, Quality of Life Health Services and the Gadsden Foundation Cardinal Board, and he gave 20 years to the Head Start Board. He was a member of Gadsden Masonic Lodge No. 236, the Zamora Shrine Club, the Red Elephant Club and the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Rainbow City.
His many honors included being named one of Alabama's Four Outstanding Young Men, the Governor's Award for the Arts, the Gadsden Area Chamber of Commerce Key Man Award, C.I.T.Y. Program Citizen of the Year, the Alabama Library Association's Public Servant Award, the Aaron L. Brown Memorial Public Service Award and the Family Success Center's Spirit of Citizenship Award. He was honored as an icon of the Central-Carver Foundation and Museum, inducted into the Gadsden Etowah Patriot's Hall of Honor and named an Etowah County Athletic Legend by Hokes Bluff High School. A section of U.S. Highway 278 bears his name.
Away from the courthouse, Junkins loved scuba diving and traveling with Susie, spending time at the beach in Fort Morgan, the Coosa River, music and a good book.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jimmy Junkins; his sister, Judy Spears; and his daughter, Gina Atkins.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Susie Smith Junkins; his children, Jason Junkins (Angela), Annie Junkins, Michelle Atkins (Shelby Cochran) and Amy Atkins (Jason Baird); his grandchildren, Chase West (Alyssa), Brianna Brown (Josh), Ben Junkins (Molly), Kara Junkins, Emma Junkins, Logan Junkins, Dylan Ward, Mason Atkins (Hannah), Caitlin Clem and Grace Standridge-Ward (Nicole); numerous great-grandchildren; his siblings, Pam Junkins, Mike Junkins and Gina Otwell; special sister-in-law, Leah Junkins; numerous nieces and nephews; and his faithful companion, Buddy.
Pallbearers were Mayor Larry Means, Frankie Davis, Judge Scott Hassell, Brad Williams, CRNA, and Johnny Fielding.
The family extended its heartfelt thanks to ACG Hospice for its compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gadsden Public Library.
In remembrance of Junkins, a reception will be held at the Gadsden Country Club on what would have been his 80th birthday, Sunday, November 1. More details will be announced.
Junkins' family shared his favorite quote, by George Washington Carver: "How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."
