08/28/2026
Preserving America’s Veterans🇺🇸One Story at a Time.
It began with a single old photograph of Robert Jordan Marshburn Sr.
His Find a Grave memorial contained his name, his dates, and a few photographs—but no biography explaining who he was or why his life mattered.
That photograph raised questions.
Who was this man?
Where did he come from?
What had he accomplished?
Who were the people he loved?
Why had such an extraordinary life been reduced to only a name and two dates?
The search began with one picture and led us through military service records, census pages, registration cards, marriage announcements, family photographs, death certificates, Associated Press images, and decades of newspaper articles.
Each discovery opened another door.
We found a Georgia-born Army officer who served during both world wars. We followed him to Miami, where he helped pioneer the self-service grocery business and built one of Florida’s largest supermarket organizations. We discovered his wife, their two sons, a devastating family tragedy, his wartime service in Africa and England, and his promotion to full colonel.
Then, after following his story across the country and overseas, the research brought us right back home to Georgia.
This is the life that emerged from that one photograph.
COLONEL ROBERT JORDAN MARSHBURN SR.
March 11, 1897 – August 27, 1965
Robert Jordan Marshburn Sr. was born on March 11, 1897, in Barnesville, Georgia. His remarkable life would encompass military service during both world wars, the transformation of Miami’s grocery industry, leadership in banking and business, and public service in the Georgia Senate.
Robert entered active military service on November 27, 1917, after training at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Commissioned as a captain of infantry, he served with Company H of the 35th Infantry.
His principal duty stations included Nogales, Arizona, and Camp Travis, Texas. He did not serve overseas during the First World War and was honorably discharged on March 19, 1919, when his services were no longer required.
During this period, Robert married Margaret Carolyn Bloodworth in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at the Bloodworth family home in Forsyth, Georgia.
Margaret was the daughter of Judge Oliver Hazard Bartow Bloodworth, who served on Georgia’s appellate court, and Margaret Louise Domingos Bloodworth. Following their marriage, Robert and Margaret initially planned to make their home in Nogales, where he was then commanding an infantry company.
After leaving the Army, the couple settled in Miami, Florida.
In 1919, Robert opened what his obituary described as Miami’s first self-service grocery store. He acquired the local rights to operate under the Piggly Wiggly name, and the 1920 United States census identified him as a Miami merchant associated with Piggly Wiggly.
The business was later renamed Margaret Ann, in honor of his wife.
Under Robert’s leadership as founder and president, Margaret Ann Supermarkets of Florida grew into one of the state’s largest retail organizations. His 1942 military registration card listed him as self-employed through Margaret Ann Super Markets in Miami.
Robert and Margaret became the parents of two sons, Robert J. “Bobbie” Marshburn Jr. and Bartow Bloodworth Marshburn.
A Miami newspaper feature published in February 1925 pictured Margaret with four-year-old Bobbie and four-month-old Bartow. Both boys had been born in Miami, and Bartow was named in honor of his maternal grandfather, Judge Bloodworth.
By the 1930s, Robert and Margaret were recognized as prominent members of Miami’s business, social, and civic community. A 1934 Atlanta newspaper article described Robert as one of Miami’s most prominent young businessmen.
That same summer, the Marshburn family experienced a heartbreaking tragedy.
Bobbie and Bartow had been attending Lake Lure Camp for Boys in North Carolina. On July 27, 1934, nine-year-old Bartow died at Rutherford Hospital in nearby Rutherfordton.
His death certificate recorded the cause as Purpura Hemorrhagica, Fulminans, a rare and rapidly developing bleeding and clotting disorder now generally known as purpura fulminans.
Bartow was only nine years and ten months old.
When the United States entered the Second World War, Robert answered his country’s call for a second time.
In May 1942, he reported to Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, and entered the Army Quartermaster Corps with the rank of major.
By 1943, Robert had advanced to lieutenant colonel and was serving overseas at United States Army headquarters in Dakar, French West Africa.
An Associated Press photograph taken there identified Lt. Col. Robert Marshburn of Miami and showed him receiving assistance while placing a telephone call at Army headquarters.
In April 1944, Robert’s promotion to the rank of full colonel was announced while he was serving in England. He was also appointed chief of the Service of Supplies there.
During Robert’s overseas service, Margaret lived near Philadelphia, while their surviving son, Robert Jr., studied theology at Princeton University. Robert Jr. later entered the ministry and became the Rev. Robert J. Marshburn Jr.
After completing his wartime service, Colonel Marshburn continued his involvement in business and public life.
He served as a director of the First National Bank of Commerce in Homer, Georgia, and had previously served as a director of the Pan American Bank of Miami.
Robert also represented his community in the Georgia Senate during the 1959–1960 legislative term.
Colonel Robert Jordan Marshburn Sr. died in Homer, Georgia, on August 27, 1965, at the age of 68. He was survived by his wife, Margaret Bloodworth Marshburn, and their son, the Rev. Robert J. Marshburn Jr.
He was laid to rest at Homer Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Homer, Banks County, Georgia.
His life connected two world wars, the growth of modern Miami, the transformation of Florida’s retail industry, and decades of civic and public service.
From his early years as an infantry captain near the Mexican border to his promotion to full colonel overseas during World War II, Robert answered his country’s call whenever he was needed.
As a businessman, banker, legislator, husband, and father, he left a legacy of leadership, enterprise, perseverance, and service that deserves to be remembered.
And all of this began with one photograph.
A grave marker preserves where someone rests.
A photograph preserves a face.
Research preserves the life between the dates.
There are countless veterans, families, business leaders, public servants, and ordinary people whose stories are still waiting to be rediscovered.
Sometimes, all it takes is one photograph—and someone willing to keep asking questions.
Look through the photographs, newspaper clippings, military records, and family documents included with this post. Together, they allow us to see Robert Jordan Marshburn Sr. not merely as a name carved in stone, but as a soldier, entrepreneur, husband, father, community leader, and Georgian whose remarkable story has finally been brought back to life.
Sources include Robert Jordan Marshburn’s military service records, World War II registration card, the 1920 United States census, Bartow Bloodworth Marshburn’s death certificate, The Miami News, the Miami Tribune, The Atlanta Constitution, The Miami Herald, Associated Press reporting, and Robert Marshburn’s 1965 published obituary.
Research by Skye Shockey
Holly Hill Veterans Cemetery
HollyHillVeteransCemetery.org
