James F. Brooks

James Fussell Brooks, 78, of Fort Smith died Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith under its hospice care. James was born November 18, 1939 in the Smuteye community near Kinston, AL to Willie Brooks and Ruth Hawkins Brooks. He graduated from Flomaton (AL) High School and attended Clark College in Newton, MS, and earned a bachelor's degree from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS in 1963. James obtained a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1966. From 1966 to 1973, he pastored Southern Baptist churches in Miami, FL, Inverness, FL, and Plymouth, FL before accepting in 1973 the position of church administrator at the First Baptist Church of Pine Hills in Orlando, FL where he helped launch what is now Central Florida Christian Academy.

From 1977 to 1981, he served as church and school administrator of Windsor Park Baptist Church and Fort Smith Christian School (now Union Christian Academy), before taking the same position at Calvary Baptist Church and Academy in Shreveport, LA. He returned to Windsor Park and FSC in 1986 and served there until 1987.

James was vice president at Tankersley Brothers Foodservice for 11 years before retiring from business to start a hospital visitation ministry, To Fort Smith With Love, in which he visited and prayed with countless numbers of patients in Fort Smith hospitals until his health prohibited him doing that in the last few years.

James was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters and two brothers. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Ellen; a son, Eric and daughter-in-law Lisa Brooks of Covington, LA; a daughter, Melanie Kelley and son-in-law Geoff of Russellville; grandsons, Jonathan Brooks of Alabaster, AL, Cullen Brooks of Natchitoches, LA, Trent Brooks of Denver, CO, Brett Kelley and Riley Kelley of Russellville; and a granddaughter, Emily Brooks of Covington, LA; sisters, Geraldine Grantham of Andalusia, AL and Annette Holmes of Niceville, FL; brothers, Jerry Brooks (Christine) of Albany, GA, Col. Buford "Pete" Brooks (Ret.) (Carolyn) of Jacksonville, AL and Rex Brooks (Joan) of Big Canoe, GA.

He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Fort Smith and assisted for a while with its media ministry. Memorial service will be 10:00 AM Friday at First Baptist Church under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Walter Tankersley, Jr., Don Tankersley, Jim Baxter and Carl Riggins. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Craft, Greg Harwood, Brian Harwood, David Harwood, David Fry, Mike Malone, Eldon Malone, Stephen Malone, Marc Malone, Ryan Coleman and Bryan Weir.

Memorials to First Baptist Church of Fort Smith Media Ministry, PO Box 609, Fort Smith, AR 72902 or Hanna House Incorporated, PO Box 1672, Fort Smith, AR 72902.

To place online tributes visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com