William Franklin Brooks

One Life For Christ Is All I Had
One Life For Him So Dear
One Life For Doing All I Could
With Every Passing Year
No One Even Cared For Me Like Jesus
There's No Other Friend So Kind As He
O How He Cared For Me

William Franklin Brooks born September 26, 1930, the youngest child of Deacon Joseph and Deaconess Rena Brooks in Sterling (Loudoun County), Virginia, passed to his heavenly reward on November 2, 2021.

He was known as Bill, Frank (Frankie), dad, papa, grandpa, and uncle by family and many friends.  He was educated in Northern Virginia at Floris (two-room) Elementary, Manassas Regional High, and furthered his education while in the military.

He gave his life to Christ in 1948 and became a disciple for him at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Sterling, Virginia.  He worked several years doing yard and railroad work and enlisted in the Air Force before being drafted in the U. S. Army in March 1951, attended basic training with the 101st Division, and served with distinction, meritoriously and honorably until his retirement effective May 31, 1981.  During his military career, he served in several states including Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Alaska, and mostly in Virginia at Fort Eustis as a Senior Instructor in Aviation (helicopter) Maintenance.  During the Korean conflict, he served in Japan as a stevedore (loading and unloading cargo ships) supervisor.  He was discharged in 1953 only to re-enlist shortly thereafter. He served in Greenland with the Transportation Arctic Group, and twice in Vietnam in the 82nd Medical Detachment (helicopter ambulance).  His last overseas tour was in Germany with the 3rd Aviation Battalion (Combat) as First Sergeant for A Company and later for HHC.  He guided soldiers through several inspections and directed his unit through three major reorganizations; and, also taught Sunday School and served on the Communion and Chapel Fund Councils.  His last duty station was at Fort Eustis, VA, as the NCOIC of the Inspector General's Office.  He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Master Aircraft Crewman Badge and Expert Rifle Badge, and numerous service ribbons, plaques, and Certificates of Appreciation and Commendation. 

He was a member (trustee) of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 176, the American Legion Post 368, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (Leadership Circle and Presidential Task Force), and Virginia Sheriffs' Institute. Following retirement from the military, he was deputized in July 1981 with the Newport News Sheriff's Office and retired in November 1992. 

Passing beyond the shadow into public light,
pulling aside the curtain, getting a cleaner sight,

passing out of the shadows into eternal day;
why do we call it dying - this sweet going away!

On March 25, 1960, he was united in holy matrimony to Pattie Neomi Mayo Taliaferro, and to this union, two loving sons and two loving daughters were born.  After making his home in Newport News, he became a disciple of New Beech Grove Baptist Church (The New Beech Grove United Church of Christ) as a watch care member in 1956 under the leadership of Pastor James Farmer, Founder, and Samuel Fladger.  He became a full member in 1975.  He served faithfully and with dedication in various ministries over the years: Trustee Chairman, Adult Sunday School Teacher, Bible Study, Founder and First President of the Male Chorus, Treasurer for the Missionary and Prayer Band, Praise Team, Prayer Band Advisor, Brotherhood, and Deacon (Chairman twice).  He served as church representative with the Denbigh United Christian Outreach (DUCO) of which he was one of the original members when it started in 1973 and gave briefings to new members of the church for several years.  By the suggestion of his wife in 1992, they took on a ministry of treating the elder widows of the church to dinner on their birthday. 

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle.  He leaves to cherish his memories his sons, Horace Wilson of Hampton, Virginia and Wentrell Kevin (Yvonne) of San Francisco, California; daughters, Kim Evette of Newport News, Virginia and Carmen Michelle of Woodbridge, Virginia; grandsons, Derrick Jason (Natalie) of Bowie, Maryland, Carrien Adjuan of Hampton, Virginia, Robert Nicholas (Lea) of Lebanon, Oregon, and Isaiah Franklin of Woodbridge, Virginia; granddaughter, Courtney Symone' of Newport News, Virginia; several great-grandchildren; brother, Joseph Brooks (Jean) of Sterling, Virginia; sister, Natalie Lee Davis of Norwalk, Connecticut; goddaughter/niece, Anita Maudi of Boynton Beach, Florida; godgranddaughters, Aisha Cooley and Amelia Parker both of Newport News, Virginia; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.  All my love to God and my children, grandchildren, and godchildren.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife; parents, Joseph and Rena (NEE Henderson) Brooks, five brothers and six sisters, James Franklin Brooks, Clarence Edwin Brooks, Clara Brooks Thornton, Maurice Edwin Compton, Bertha Gibson, Carroll Benjamin Brooks, Louise Elizabeth Smith, Ethel Marjorie Thompson, Naomi Marie Washington, George Louis Brooks, and Rosa Elinor Hogan. 

Many thanks to the Family Deacon, Henry Briggs.  The way we live our lives each day makes up our eulogy; so ask yourself, "when I pass on, what will be said of me?"

Would you like to know where I am?
I am at home in my father's house, in the mansion prepared for me. 
I am where I want to be - no longer on the stormy sea but in God's safe, quiet harbor.
I am with Christ!  What want I more?

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