Ralph Hawkins Brooks

Mr. Ralph Hawkins Brooks, 85, retired from the maintenance department of the City of Columbia and former employee of the Tennessee Knitting Mills, died Saturday, November 27, 2004 at Maury Regional Hospital. Graveside services will be conducted Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Worley Cemetery with military honors by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. Reverend Mike Roberts will officiate. The family will visit with friends Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols. Memorials may be made to Columbia Academy, 1101 West 7th Street, Columbia, 38401 or the American Heart Association, Middle Tennessee Chapter, 1818 Patterson Street, Nashville, 37203. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. A native of the Hampshire Community in Maury County, he was the son of the late Charlie Brooks and Izora Snow Love Brooks. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II and was a member and former president of the Junior Order. His wife, Eva Nell Cooley Brooks died October 10, 1985. He is survived by two daughters, Ellen (Richard) Thompson of Columbia and Jodie Hardison of Lewisburg; a son, Ren "Buzzy" Brooks of Columbia; grandchildren, Tracy Hardison, Taylor Hardison, Stephen Hardison, Melissa Todd, Ricky Thompson, Gregory Brooks and Chris Brooks; a great-grandchild, Jadah Todd; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Ralph Wayne Brooks; five sisters, Clemmie Witherspoon, Viola Akin, Pernicie Jones, Georgia Ann Thomas and Mary Willis Hickman; three brothers, Wallace Brooks, Zollie Brooks and Norman Brooks. Active pallbearers are Dennis Goatz, Clifford Brooks, Ray Brooks, Robert Baker, Alfred Edwards and Mark Goatz. Employees of the City of Columbia will serve as honorary pallbearers.