Roll Call Tribute

Eugene Britt Butler 

October 31, 1922 - October 16, 2023 

Eugene Britt Butler left this earthly home as a centenarian on Monday, Oct 16, 2023. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, on Halloween in 1922, he was a mere fifteen days shy of his 101st birthday.

Britt was raised and attended school in Highland Park, Texas. He was a college student at Texas A&M University when World War II began. Along with many of his fellow students, Britt didn't hesitate to enlist for military service. He joined the US Navy and became one of the first Seabees, serving in the naval construction battalion. He was deployed for nearly four years and served in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, as well as many locations in the South Pacific. Upon returning from the war, Britt attended Southern Methodist University where he met his future wife in economics class. Mary Ellen Whitham married Britt the day after her college graduation on Feb 1, 1948. Since Britt's grandfather was one of the founding members of Progressive Farmer magazine, the family offered him a job in Birmingham as a purchasing agent. Britt and Mary Ellen relocated to Birmingham so he could join the family business. In 1950, on the fifth anniversary of the end of the war (VE Day), their first child was born, Janice Carol. Then in 1958, their son, Robert Britt, was born. Britt was a natural leader and visionary at Progressive Farmer. He assisted in creating the company's wildly successful offshoot, Southern Living magazine. Britt was promoted to Vice President of Human Resources for both magazines and was compassionately involved in the lives of their employees.

Britt was an active member of Cahaba Heights Methodist Church, a dedicated volunteer with Boy Scouts of America, and a consistent participant in many professional organizations. He retired in 1985 which is the same year that he and Mary Ellen built their dream home on 40 gorgeous acres along the Cahaba River. Britt truly enjoyed retirement and lived it to the fullest. In 1988, Britt formed an environmental charitable organization named Abahac (which is Cahaba spelled backwards). He was passionate about protecting our nation's waterways and other natural resources, working tirelessly to promote and fund such efforts. Mary Ellen passed away in the fall of 1998, and Britt married Judy White in the fall of 2001. Together, Britt and Judy enjoyed travel, environmental activism, and growing the Abahac family of charities. In 2019, Britt handed over the Abahac reigns to his daughter, Jan who now serves as President. Britt's life was full of incredible stories, history, and service. His legacy will carry on through the twenty charitable organizations within his Abahac network as well as his beautiful family he leaves behind.

Britt was predeceased by his first wife, Mary Ellen Whitham, his second wife, Judy White, and Judy's son, Jeffrey Allen Butler (Bonzo). He is survived by his children, Jan and Robert; grandchildren Carley Tucker Given (Chad), Ellen Brackin Sevits (Jamie), Morgan Butler, and Ryan Butler; great-grandchildren Lainey, Charlotte Ann, Alex, and Jack; and many dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, Britt specifically requested for donations to be made to the CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation (https://seabeehf.org) or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation (https://t2t.org). 

Arrangements under the direction and care of Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood, AL.