Mr. Leo Henry Brooks, 81, of Douglas, Ga., passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, Ga.
Mr. Brooks was born Sept. 13, 1932 in Bainbridge. He attended Florida State University and Troy State University. Mr. Brooks earned his master’s degree in educational administration from Mississippi College.
Mr. Brooks was a member of the U.S. Naval Air Force and proudly served his country in the Korean War.
He was a retired educator who served in education for 41 years.
He was a coach, teacher, and administrator. Following retirement, Mr. Brooks served on the Coffee County Board of Education for eight years, where he served as chairman.
He was a member of the Georgia Athletic Association. Following retirement, he opened Staff Mate, an employment agency.
Mr. Brooks was a former President of the Douglas Golf and Country Club, former President of the Kiwanis Club and member of the Douglas First United Methodist Church where he served in various leadership roles.
Survivors include his wife, Beth Childs Brooks of Douglas; daughter, Lunday (Kevin) Brooks Buffington of Columbus; three grandchildren, Brooks Buffington, Lillie Buffington and Eva Buffington; brother-in-law, Thad (Denise) Childs, Jr. of Gray, Ga.; nephew, Thad Childs III of Frisco, Colorado; niece, Lana Childs of Macon, Ga.
Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Douglas First United Methodist Church with Rev. Sam Vernon, Dr. John McGowan and Rev. Benjy Varnell officiating. Interment followed at the Douglas City Cemetery. Music was furnished by Tania and Steve Myers “Surely The Presence of the Lord”, Congregational Hymns “Amazing Grace” and “Because He Lives”, and solo “How Great Thou Art” by Brad Riner. Postlude “Shalom to You.”
ctive Pallbearers were Bob Williams, Danny Paulk, Craig McCrary, Lyn Lott, Brian McNeill, Greg Lewis, Dr. Rodney Vickers, and Dr. Larry Moorman.
Honorary Pallbearers were former administrators, teachers and staff of the Coffee County School System; former and present Board of Education members; Aldersgate Sunday School Class,;Men’s Golf Association, Joy Paulk and family, Gail McCrary and family, Cindy Williams and family, Robert and Sara Tift, Babe and Janice Barnett and family, Ralph and Ann Pharis, Jerry Spikes, Joe Spikes, Chip Spikes, Mark Spikes, Ed and Lynda Bagwell and family, Sherman and Mary Ann Dudley, Bob and Norma Preston, Dr. Guy and Jeanette Moorman, Milton and Laura Clements, Bonwell and Betty Royal, Myrtlene Whitworth, Ben and Lucille Vickers, John and Angie Farley, Phil Nation, Melvin Young, Country Smith, Nedra Mathis, Sid and Sally Cottingham, Asa and Sue Whitfield, Justin Fender, Gary Moore, Bill and Mary Meeks, and Greg Walker and family.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to The Community Foundation of Central Georgia, P.O. Box 2346, Douglas, GA 31554, in memo please put in memory of Leo H. Brooks Scholarship Fund, Douglas First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 738, Douglas, GA 31534, and Macular Degeneration Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 531313, Henderson, Nevada 89053
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of services.