Gardiner T. BROOKS Jr.

WILLIAMSBURG - Gardiner Tyler "GT" Brooks Jr., died Sunday, May 30, 2010, at his home with loving family by his bedside after a short but courageous battle with cancer.
GT, a native and lifelong resident of Williamsburg, was born on Oct. 2, 1929, and lived his life as a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a true Virginia gentleman.
He married Virginia Cary Bowie on Aug. 26, 1950, graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1951, and began his career at Brooks Agency, Inc. in Williamsburg with his father, Gardiner T. Brooks Sr., and his mother, Charlotte S. Brooks, as the third generation in the family insurance and real estate business founded in 1885 by his grandfather, Archibald Brooks. This was the beginning of GT's lifetime commitment to community involvement as a member or officer of organizations in his beloved Williamsburg. GT served as Secretary of the Williamsburg Board of Elections for 20 years and was a member of the founding committee of the Williamsburg Youth League. He was past President of the Greater Williamsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, and Williamsburg Area Association of Realtors. He served on the Boards for Bacon Street, Williamsburg Reunion Committee, Williamsburg Historic Records Association, Heritage Humane Society, Colonial Virginia Council for the Boy Scouts of America, Williamsburg-James City County Merger Study Commission, Williamsburg Recreation Commission, Williamsburg Architectural Review Board, Golden Horseshoe Club, Bruton Parish OUTREACH Committee, and as a longtime member of the Peninsula Bank & Trust Company (and Crestar Bank) Advisory Board. He was a proud member of the Pulaski Club and Middle Plantation Club and was recognized for his civic involvement with the Williamsburg Jaycees Distinguished Service Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Williamsburg Area Association of Realtors and the Hall of Fame for BSA Troop 103.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Virginia Cary "Suzie" Brooks; four children, G. Tyler Brooks III, and wife, Cheri, Charles D. Brooks and wife, Nancy, Cary Brooks Sears, all of Williamsburg, Laurie Brooks Pettit, and husband, Scott of Manakin-Sabot; nine grandchildren, Crisney Brooks Powell (Shannon) of Fuquay, N.C., Nicole Brooks Slater (Ryan) of Glendale, Ariz., Charles K. Sears (Sarah) of Charleston, S.C., Gardiner T. Brooks IV, Mason S. Brooks, Lindsey G. Brooks, Jennifer Cary Sears, all of Williamsburg, Scott Dawson Pettit, Charlotte Tyler Pettit, both of Manakin-Sabot; three great-grandchildren, Margaret E. Sears, Kathleen V. Sears, Ryland K. Sears. These children are the greatest legacy of GT's life, he was their role model with his tremendous appreciation of life and his gracious attitude to everyone he met.
Graveside memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at Cedar Grove Cemetery located at S. Henry Street in Williamsburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bacon Street, 247 McLaws Circle, Williamsburg, VA 23185 or Colonial Virginia Council for the Boy Scouts of America, 11721 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA 23606.
Bucktrout of Williamsburg Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.