COLUMBUS, Ga. —  Max Lafayette Brabson, of Columbus, Georgia, died peacefully June 1, 2016, surrounded by family and friends. He was 89 years of age. He was a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.
Survivors include his loving wife of 64 years, Kathryn (Kit) Rice Brabson; daughter, Mary Kathryn Brabson of Columbus; son, Max L. Brabson Jr. and wife Suzanne Cato Brabson of Columbus; and, grandchildren Christopher Miller Brabson and wife Jenna of Birmingham, Ala., Lauren Elisabeth Ferriter and husband Paddy of Steilacoom, Wash.; and great-granddaughters Ella and Julia Sue Brabson of Birmingham, Ala.
Mr. Brabson was born on Dec.  9, 1926, in Otto, North Carolina, the fourth son of the late John Miller and Mary Elizabeth McDowell Brabson, and grandson of Dr. Alexander Crutchfield and Cora Ann Rush Brabson and James Fields and Ara Ella Howard McDowell. In addition to his parents and grandparents, he was predeceased by older brothers James Alexander Brabson, Samuel Hudson Brabson, Thomas Grady Brabson and younger sister Ella Ann Brabson, who died in infancy. He lived in Columbus much of his life.
Mr. Brabson retired as chairman and chief executive officer of Columbus Regional Healthcare System Inc. on July 1, 1989. Mr. Brabson completed over 42 years of leadership in healthcare management with a wide range of experiences and roles including positions with the Middle Georgia Hospital in Macon, Ga., the Americus Sumter County Hospital in Americus, Ga., and Georgia-based Charter Medical Corporation. He was a lifetime Fellow (FACHE) in the American College of Healthcare Administrators and was chairman of the board of trustees and the Georgia Hospital Association during 1987. He served on numerous healthcare and community boards.
Mr. Brabson received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Georgia in 1950, a master’s in hospital administration degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., in 1958, and attended the Hospital Administrators Development Program at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., in 1961. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and a member of Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).
Mr. Brabson served proudly in the Army and Army Reserves. He was a veteran of World War II, where he served following his graduation at age 18 from the Infantry Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Ga., He retired as lieutenant colonel AUS.
Striffler-Hamby at Parkhill Cemetery is in charge of arrangements