Robert "Cecil" Southern Sr., 88, passed away on Thursday, September 25, 2025, in Dade City, FL. Cecil was born March 5, 1937, in Moulton, Alabama to Robert & Etta (Waits) Southern. He grew up surrounded by a large and loving family including sisters Agnes, Shelby, Jeanette, Shirley, Linda, Sue, Joyce, and brother Garry.

Cecil moved to Dade City when he was a young man. He worked numerous jobs, but his lifelong career was owner of the tire store, "Cecil and Sons." He loved and appreciated his customers and was known for always wearing his denim overalls. He ran the business for many years. When he retired, he spent a lot of his time buying and selling antiques. His favorite place to trade was at the Webster Flea Market. He liked to make a dollar, but he enjoyed talking with folks the most. One of his cherished possessions was the many pedal cars he accumulated over the years. A lot of his old antiques and gas pumps set the scene for a movie filmed at his tire shop in 2003. He had a brief role in the movie as a milk man wearing his all-white attire, representing the 40's era, stepping out of his 1940 milk truck and walking down the sidewalk delivering milk. His 5-minute role in the movie "Small Town Conspiracy" never gained him fame in Hollywood, but he became famous to many families and friends in his little hometown of Dade City.

His legacy will be honored and cherished by his family including his wife, Lucy, of 66 years, sons Robert (Carla) Southern, Ronnie (Chrissy) Southern, granddaughter Renee Hartsock, grandsons Travis Southern, Levi Southern, and Logan Southern, great granddaughters Blakely and Breely Southern, siblings Sue Schaefers, Shirley Livingston, Linda (Bill) Rohm , Joyce Burrow, Garry (Pam) Southern, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Etta Southern, and sisters Shelby Jones, Agnes Tucker, and Jeanette Nails.

There will be a private graveside service in his honor with immediate family only.

His memory and giving spirit will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.