Norman Lee Higginbotham

Norman Lee Higginbotham, 86, of Hamburg, died Thursday, January 29, 2026, at The Woods Nursing Facility in Monticello, surrounded by family and loved ones.  Mr. Higginbotham was born April 24, 1939, a lifelong resident of Hamburg and a 1957 graduate of Hamburg High School.  He retired from Georgia-Pacific in 1996 as an Electrical & Instrumentation Supervisor.  Mr. Higginbotham was a lifelong member of Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church where he led music for 45 years, served as a deacon for 46 years, taught Sunday School, was very active with the youth, and selflessly served in many other ways.  He was instrumental in building both the new Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church sanctuary and family life center. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, sports – anything Razorback or Cowboys, and spending time with family and friends. Mr. Higginbotham was a devoted husband and was lovingly known as Papaw to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by a son, Samuel Lee Higginbotham; his parents, Gaston & Janie Higginbotham; four brothers, Lavon “Slick” Higginbotham, Frank “Bunk” Higginbotham, Ralph “Pete” Higginbotham, and James Higginbotham; and two sisters, Annie Jo Smith & Martha Louise Pelton.

He is survived by his wife of 67 ½ years, Frances Merlyn Higginbotham of Hamburg; a daughter, Catrinia “Tina” Lynn Jacks (Steve) of Monticello; a son Kevin Lee Higginbotham (Sonja) of Sharpsburg, Georgia; seven grandchildren, Kelley Tracy (Ben) of Harrisburg, Stuart Jacks (Lacey) of Monticello, Wesley Jacks (Haley) of Dumas, Heath Higginbotham (Jami) of Orange Park, Florida, Hunter Higginbotham (Emily), Hayden Higginbotham, and Hyatt Higginbotham all of Sharpsburg, Georgia; nine great-grandchildren, Anna Claire Tracy, Max Tracy, Adysen Jacks, Cooper Jacks, Dawson Jacks, Gracie Jacks, Emmy Jo Jacks, Slayton Jacks, and William Higginbotham; two sisters, Margaret Riley of Little Rock, and Betty Eubanks of Hamburg, as well as an extensive church family and many close friends.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, February 1, 2026 at the Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Josh Luellen and Bro. Michael Reese officiating. Burial will be in the Promise Land Cemetery. Pallbearers are Stuart Jacks, Wesley Jacks, Ben Tracy, Heath Higginbotham, Hunter Higginbotham, Hayden Higginbotham, and Hyatt Higginbotham.  Honorary pallbearers are the Deacons of Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church, Jared Brooks, Jeff Foster, Ronnie Coulter, Rodney Chapman, Billy Don Cecil, Norval Lee Cecil, Lane Culp, Andy Vail, and Jim Wells.  Memorials may be made to the Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church, 765 Ashley Road 70, Hamburg, AR  71646. 

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.