Charles Edward Brooks

Charles Edward Brooks, 80, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2014, at his home in Lake Mary, Florida after a five year battle with cancer. He was born on April 20, 1934 in Buchanan, Georgia to Joseph Samuel Brooks and Maureen Holcombe Brooks. Charles grew up in Lake Worth, Florida and graduated from Lake Worth High School in 1952. After high school he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, but interrupted his college education to serve in the army. Upon his discharge in 1956, he returned to UF where he received a BS degree in Business Administration in 1958. He, then, began his career with Prudential Insurance Company in their Appraising and Mortgage Lending Division. Between 1963 and 1966 he completed the construction, sale and financing of over 500 homes in Brevard County, Florida for Charter Mortgage Company. Upon leaving Charter in 1966, Charles formed C. E. Brooks Mortgage Company, Inc., a full service mortgage banking firm. The transformation from mortgage banking began in 1973 with his first motel opening in Gainesville, Florida. For nearly five decades, he has owned or managed various office buildings and hotels in five states in the Southeast. He was a past president and founding member of the Econo Lodges of America Franchisee Association, Inc. and on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for more than twenty years; a past president elect of the Merritt Island Chamber of Commerce; a past president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Brevard County; served as a director of a bank holding company, a life insurance company, title insurance company and a mental health facility; and a member of the Orlando and National Board of Realtors. Charles was a life member of the Citrus Club, a life member of Sweetwater Highlands Golf & Country Club and member of The Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes. First and foremost he dearly loved all his family. He loved golfing, flying, sailing, his antique cars and sports – football, baseball, basketball & more recently soccer. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Cynthia Mann Brooks; daughter, Cynthia Jean Brooks of Merritt Island; son, Charles E. “Chuck” Brooks, Jr. of Altamonte Springs; daughter, Jennifer (Alex) Acosta of Lake Mary; daughter, Stephanie (Jeff) Vangilder of Palm Bay; and three grandchildren, Aislyn, Braydon & Chase. He is also survived by his Mother, Maureen Brooks of Merritt Island; sister, Betty Rudd of Bronson; sister, Loreece Cabaniss of Merritt Island; brother, Robert “Bob” (Donna) Brooks of Orlando; brother-in-law, Ed (Dianne) Mann of Sugar Hill, Georgia; sister-in-law, Karen (Russell) Teutsch of Bossier City, Louisiana; sister-in-law, Annette Mann of Sanford; four aunts and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of lifelong friends. He was preceded by his Father, Joseph Brooks. Funeral services will be held at Baldwin-Fairchild Oaklawn, 5000 County Road 46A, Sanford, Florida on Wednesday, August 20 at 12:00 PM. Visitation will be held prior to the service at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. Afterwards the family will be greeting friends and relatives at Heathrow Country Club, 1200 Bridgewater Drive, Heathrow, Florida. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Charles’ memory to LWHS Dollars for Scholars or to Hospice of the Comforter at www.hospiceofthecomforter.org.