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Help me lay my daddy to rest, and take him home.
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$1,755 raised of $7.5K
19 donations
My name is Ashley, I am Robert Higginbotham's daughter.
First, thank you for coming here and taking the time to read this.
I am in shock still at this point,
and trying to navigate through this time,
while maintaining my sanity for my children.
So please bare with me.
Me and my children are and was VERY CLOSE to my father,
we have lived together my whole life,
and remained "roommates" into my adult life as well.
I have two daughters Rylee(13) and Aiyana.(9)
As most of you know, my father was a good, hard working man.
Regardless of his flaws, like everyone has,
he truly meant to be good and do good.
My dad was born in Florida, and moved to Georgia as a teenager.
He had me and my brother Robert Lou in his early/mid 20s.
We had a rough childhood, but I know my dad
strived to be the best dad in the way HE knew.
He has been a mechanic for 40 years,
and was one of the best in Atlanta.
Everyone knew who Bobby the mechanic was.
My dad was my rock. It's always been us against the world.
Over the last 5 years or so,
my father's health had started to really decline.
He had been diagnosed with CHF and had an over active heart.
He took medications daily to slow his heart rate down,
and all kinds of things I couldn't even begin to tell you.
Last year things took a turn, my dads drinking got out of control.
He lost his job, his home, and ended up in the ICU.
So I moved my dad in, got him better, and things got better.
For about 4 months, he fought the fight, he stayed sober.
He was feeling better, eating better and looking better.
He started working again. I thought we was good.
But he started to get sad again, sleeping more..
and I started to notice he was definitely drinking again
maybe every other weekend.
It'd make him sick, not eat, irritated and
mean to everyone around him, restless after sleeping.
He was in denial. time went on, and it became every weekend.
I'd sit him down, tell him I love him, I want him to be better.
I need him, my girls need him.
we'd cry.
he'd said he's sorry, he needs help..
he would say, ok no more...
go a week or two, and BAM.
he's wasted again.
He started going to all these Dr appointments
trying to get apprroved for disability,
and would say
"the Dr said the alcohol isnt hurting me"
I just couldn't get him to see the bigger picture.
He's battled it for so long.
Over the last couple weeks,
he got to where it was everyday.
About a month ago he finally
got approved for disability, and
it was supposed to begin in Sept/October.
& was supposed to get a back pay check.
He was so relieved, he finally gets to
stop working and relax.
My poor daddy didn't even make
it to his first check.
My dads normal routine, was waking up
going to work coming home,
watching some tv and he would take a nap,
get back up, go outside and smoke a cigarette,
maybe go to the store, (get a drink)
come home and repeat it.
We'd all have dinner together everynight,
watch tv or a movie together, talk about our day
go to bed, and start over the next day.
this next part is the day of his passing,
and how it happened for me...
On Saturday August 16 2025
little did I know mine and my girl's
lives would change forever.
Normal morning, woke up he was watching tv.
He had already been up and went to get him some
breakfast and see a friend that morning.
I started my day, we had some things to do.
I went to Kroger and got my morning coffee, came back
he had laid down on the couch watching tv.
couple hours go by..
Brandon and our youngest daughter headed off for the day.
Me and my oldest still here,
because she had a softball function to be at later.
couple hours go by..
we got ready to leave..
it was about, 5ish in the afternoon when we went to leave,
I noticed, he had turned over like he does normally.
we returned at 8:30ish and usually we pull up
dad would be on the porch smoking and cigarette or something.
come inside, he was still in the same place and didn't react to us coming in, I got my daughter situated and I took my dog out and when I came inside I knew something wasn't right.
I walked over to him and couldn't bring myself to do it..
I was looking for breathing, because he was covered up.
No movement.. I moved the blanket, and his arm was pale..
I grabbed him and he was already cold.
I lost my mind. My Daddy. My Best Friend. My ROCK.
Just gone in a instant.
I am very grateful he went in his sleep.
But I was NOT ready for this right now.
My daddy wanted to be cremated, and taken back home
to Florida to be laid to rest with his mom and two sisters.
Today I went to make his arrangements at the funeral home.
Right now just his cremation is going to be $4,048.60
Then plus whatever it going to cost us to go to Florida etc
I am working on trying to get some assistance from the state
or county, I made the phone calls I'm just waiting for someone to contact me back about it.
My daddy didn't have any life insurance, or savings,
he didn't own anything other than his car and his tools.
Which I have to receive a death certificate to change over his
title to the car and all that.
So with a heavy heart I make this page
asking for any help towards our family,
and what we need to do and for the
things we are going through.
Thank you all for your time, or donations.
My dad would truly appreciate it also.
He loved you all very much.
I know you all will miss him
as will I.
Organizer
