Barry Lynn Mullins

Barry Lynn Mullins, age 60, of Tuscaloosa, died June 13, 2012. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. today at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park with Dr. Ken Dunivant officiating and Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Barry was preceded in death by his mother, Martha Kate Mullins.

He is survived by his wife, Jan Mullins; children, Bobby and Katelyn; father, B.G. (Moon) Mullins; and siblings, Ellen Taylor (Bill), JoKay Christopher, Robert Mullins, and Neal Mullins (Amy).

Barry was a graduate of Tuscaloosa High School where he served as president of his senior class. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Among his many accomplishments while attending the University of Alabama were being a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Jasons, and receiving the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award in 1974. He also served as president of his fraternity, Theta Chi. Barry received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1977 where he served as president of his class. He practiced law for 35 years and served as the attorney for the Tuscaloosa County Commission for much of that time. He loved hunting, water and snow skiing, and was an avid golfer. He was on the board of the Alabama Golf Association where he served as president. He was a charter member of P.O.E.T.S. Barry was also involved in many civic activities. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.

Pallbearers will be Robert Reynolds, Mike Echols, Walter Gary, Dr. Tom Patton, Dr. John Brandon, and Dr. Chuck Johnson.

Honorary pallbearers are Robert Spence, Melvin Vines, Sheriff Ted Sexton, Bill Lamb, Judge Hardy McCollum and Tuscaloosa County Commission, DaVita Northport Dialysis Center, Dr. Rich Gurich, Dr. Dirk Berry, Dr. Garfield Ramdee and staff, George Beasley, Clint Miller, and ICU staff at Northport Medical Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Barry Mullins Golf Scholarship at the University of Alabama, c/o the Crimson Tide Foundation, P.O. Box 870343, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.

Longtime Tuscaloosa County attorney Barry Mullins dies

Colleagues say lawyer helped guide county during instrumental time of growth

By Lydia Seabol Avant
Staff Writer

Friday, June 15, 2012

Longtime Tuscaloosa County attorney Barry Mullins died Wednesday. He was 60.

Mullins worked with Tuscaloosa County during an instrumental time for growth, from 1985 through 2000, said Probate Judge Hardy McCollum, chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Commission. During that time, Mullins assisted the county getting subdivision rules implemented, helped the county with its household garbage collection and helped lead the county commission when it came to legal matters, McCollum said.

“He was one of the brightest young attorneys that I have ever known,” McCollum said. “He did an exceptional job for us.”

Mullins also represented several rural water authorities in West Alabama, said Robert Spence, current attorney for Tuscaloosa County.

“He had a vast knowledge of how those systems worked together,” Spence said. “He was a very smart lawyer, and he was very well versed in particular county issues.”

Mullins also previously served as a special assistant attorney general for the state for more than 10 years, working with the Alabama Department of Transportation.

Mullins grew up in the Tuscaloosa neighborhood Wood Manor, where he’d often ride bikes to the old Meadowbrook golf course to play and was known for his game, said longtime friend Mike Echols. Golf was a lifelong passion for him, and Mullins eventually went on to serve as a president of the Alabama Golf Association.

“He was a good golfer and a good man,” Echols said. “He’s going to be missed.”

Mullins was on the golf team at Tuscaloosa High School, where he graduated in 1970 as class president. He then attended the University of Alabama, where he graduated in 1974 and received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award, given to the most outstanding student of the year at UA.

He then received his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law, where he served as president of his law school class.

As a lawyer, Mullins was well respected, hardworking and very successful in the courtroom, said City Councilwoman Cynthia Lee Almond, who knew Mullins since childhood.

“Barry had a heart of gold,” Almond said. “He was very stubborn, but that made him a good lawyer and a very successful one.”

Mullins is survived by his wife, Jan Mullins, children Bobby and Katelyn, father, B.G. “Moon” Mullins and siblings, Ellen Taylor, JoKay Christopher, Rob Mullins and Neal Mullins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Martha N. Mullins.

A visitation will be held at the Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel at 10 a.m. Saturday, with a graveside service at 11 a.m at the Tuscaloosa Memorial Park.

Mullins was on the golf team at Tuscaloosa High School, where he graduated in 1970 as class president. He then attended the University of Alabama, where he graduated in 1974 and received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award, given to the most outstanding student of the year at UA.

He then received his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law, where he served as president of his law school class.

As a lawyer, Mullins was well respected, hardworking and very successful in the courtroom, said City Councilwoman Cynthia Lee Almond, who knew Mullins since childhood.

“Barry had a heart of gold,” Almond said. “He was very stubborn, but that made him a good lawyer and a very successful one.”

Mullins is survived by his wife, Jan Mullins, children Bobby and Katelyn, father, B.G. “Moon” Mullins and siblings, Ellen Taylor, JoKay Christopher, Rob Mullins and Neal Mullins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Martha N. Mullins.

A visitation will be held at the Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel at 10 a.m. Saturday, with a graveside service at 11 a.m at the Tuscaloosa Memorial Park.