Frank Emelien Brooks III

Frank Emelien Brooks, III (aka IV)

After a lengthy illness, Frank Emelien Brooks, III (aka IV), peacefully passed away in his Stafford County, Va., home on December 19, 2025. He was 85.

At 10 days old, Frank, with his twin sister, Harriet, moved from Mary Washington Hospital to Colonial Beach where they joined an older sister, Ann. Later, two other siblings, Henry and Marcia, joined the clan. During WWII, their father moved the family to Massachusetts where he worked at a lab on the M.I.T. campus. After the war, he returned to Colonial Beach.

Growing up "on the Beach" was like growing up in Mayberry RFD. It was a place of tranquility and innocence and finding ways to make money. At 10, needlessly to say, Frank was too young to get a regular job. He worked doing things like cutting grass; and, with his younger brother, meeting people at the bus stop with their Red Flyer wagon, to carry the luggage of those who had overrated their ability to carry their excessively heavy bags to their hotel. He learned that a good attitude and a smile could earn you a nice tip. As a teen, his friend's father owned a gas station with a repair shop. Here, he was taught how to happily service patrons "with a smile" and a "You all come back now!"

This training served him well when at 16, he began to work for J.J. New Berry's and, soon after, for National Shoe Store on Caroline Street. He was so successful at his work that National Shoes came down from their New York headquarters and asked the Fredericksburg Court system to recognize him as an adult so he could become the manager of the store. (Remember, at this time, 21 was the age of majority.) As a store manager on Caroline Street, Frank became a member of the Downtown Merchant's Association, where he formed many life-long friendships. While at National's, he was often sent to other, less successful, National branches, along the east coast-from New York to Florida-as an ombudsman. At these branches, he used his business acumen to move those failing stores to a level of success.

Still in his early 30s, J.C Penney's noticed the appearance and success of Frank's store and pursued him for several years. He was finally persuaded to join them at their Spring Field Mall store as a J.C.Penney's Buyer for the northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. and southern Maryland district. He also trained all employees who became Associates in the shoe department. Later he would transfer to the Men's Finer Clothing Department where over the years he won seven State, Regional, and National awards as the Top Salesman (what they call at Penny's an "All Star of the Year") before retiring to the Fredericksburg area.

Throughout Frank's work years, he had become a member of various organizations which he enjoyed while employed; but became more active in upon his retirement. He never joined an organization that didn't have a "community component". As a member of the Elks, Moose, Eagles, B.P.O.E. Odd Fellows and a staunch member of Trinity Episcopal Church, he worked with fellow members to procure funds which provided aid to young and old, for college scholarships, food for those experiencing "food insecurity", clothing and necessities for Children in the Foster Care system, summer camps, diabetes research, and more. Most of his volunteer work centered on helping the young.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Frank E. and Mary K. Brooks; his wife, Delores "Lorrie" F. Brooks; his son, Frank E. Brooks IV; and his wife, Laura L. Brooks. He is survived by his siblings, Ann B. Coutsoubinas of New York, Harriet B. Rowe and Marcia B. Upshaw (Willard "Bill") of Fredericksburg, and Henry K. Brooks (Georgina B.) of Florida. Frank was, also, blessed with grandchildren as well as nephews and nieces that also survive him.

On January 24, 2026, there will be a service at 11 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church on 825 College Avenue in Fredericksburg, Va., followed by a reception in Barbour Hall, also at the Church. A family burial service will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcomed by the Alzheimer's Disease Research or the American Heart Association.

An online guest book is available at covenantfuneralservice.com.