Norman Brent Higginbotham

1933 - 2023

Norman Brent Higginbotham

Norman Brent Higginbotham, known as Brent, passed away at his home of over three decades at Lake Anna, Virginia, on January 19, 2023, from a long battle with congestive heart failure.

Brent was born on August 1, 1933, in Amherst, Virginia, to Lucilla Brent Sandidge Higginbotham and Norman Thomas Higginbotham. An only child, he moved with his parents to Orange, Virginia, and ultimately to Fairfax, Virginia, as an eight grader where he graduated from Fairfax High School in 1950. A member of the National Honor Society, he entered the University of Virginia at the age of 16, achieved an undergraduate degree in 1955, and graduated from UVA law school in 1958. Later that year, he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Legal Specialist (now a JAG). From Naval Justice Law School in Newport, RI he was assigned to duties in Charleston, S.C., where he met and married Doris Lynn Gay. At the conclusion of his military service, Brent returned to Fairfax where he practiced general law for 30 years.

In 1972, he purchased a large parcel of land on the planned Lake Anna reservoir. At the suggestion of a local merchant, he opened Brent's Landing, which was the first public boat launching site on Lake Anna. In 1987, he and Doris decided to build their home on the property, and he lived in retirement there for more than 35 years.

Brents retirement involved further improving the land to host visitors, but he also visited friends from his three alma maters of high school, college and law school. He and Doris enjoyed attending UVA football games with friends and fellow alumni. One of his biggest pleasures was having friends, family and classmates visit and enjoy the Lake Anna property.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Doris Gay Higginbotham; sons, Thomas Brent Higginbotham (Maura) of Richmond, and Forrest Stephen Higginbotham (Ginger) of Fairfax; daughter, Katherine Higginbotham Brown (Patrick) of Fredericksburg; grandchildren, Julia Higginbotham (Brian), Sarah Higginbotham, Grant Higginbotham (Brittney), Grace Higginbotham, Claire Higginbotham, Andrew Brown, and Nathan Brown; and great granddaughter, Finley Higginbotham.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in memory of Brent Higginbotham and Wayne McCay to the Massachusetts General Hospital – Prevent ALS

Donations may be made online at https://www.massgeneral.org/neurology/als/research/prevent-als. Or checks can be mailed to: Massachusetts General Hospital, Development Office,125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA. 02114. Please include Brent's and Wayne's name on the check.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 23, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Preddy Funeral Chapel, Orange, with a reception following at Madison at the Mill, Orange. A private graveside service will be held at a later date. Preddy Funeral Home of Orange is assisting the family.