Thomas Garrett Brooks Sr.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas Garrett Brooks, Sr. in Tallahassee, Florida on December 29, 2011, after a long illness. He was 91 years old. Garrett (also called Tom) was married for 65 years to Florence Ann ‘Polly’ Brooks who passed away in 2005. They were high school sweethearts at Commercial High School in Atlanta from which they graduated in 1940. Garrett was born August 11, 1920 in Atlanta, Georgia where he was raised. He was the eighth of ten children of Emory and Rosa Brooks. He was the last of the children to pass on, his siblings being: Harry, Robert, Clyde, Jeanette, Tilden, Helen, Vivian, Willis, and Susan. Garrett was a career soldier in the U.S. Army serving from 1942 to 1962, retiring with the rank of Chief-Warrant-Officer 4 (CW4). He was stationed at Ft. McPherson, Georgia (1942-46, 1950-52) and was part of the U.S. occupation forces in Yokohama, Japan (1947-1949). He also had assignments at the Pentagon (1953-56); Port-au-Prince, Haiti (1956-59); and Ft. Monroe, Virginia (1959-62). During his time at Ft. McPherson, he attained an L.L.B. degree from Atlanta Law School. He was a member of the Georgia Bar. After retiring from active service, Garrett worked in Civil Service for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Ft. Monroe, Virginia and Ft. Sheridan, Illinois. He reached the level of GS-15 as Director of Logistics in the Recruiting Command. He retired from the Civil Service in 1982 after 20 years.

Garrett is survived by his oldest son Thomas Garrett Brooks, Jr., daughter-in-law, Randy Brooks, and their three sons: Erik, Kurt, and Ryan. Garrett has two great-grandchildren, Ian and Abigail. Garrett is also survived by his youngest son, Dr. Wesley Harrell Brooks and daughter-in-law, Dr. Kimiko Takezawa. A funeral service will be held in the Abbey Chapel at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, January 21, 2012. Viewing will be from 10:00-11:00 am with the service at 11:00 am followed by interment with military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America will be appreciated. Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.