Frank Lane Brooks

Frank Lane Brooks was born on November 7, 1945, in Waynesboro, Georgia, to Dr. Nathan Cohn Brooks, Jr. and Ruby Hayes Brooks. He was the third of five children in a family deeply rooted in faith, as his father was a Baptist minister. This calling took them to various cities including Greenville, SC; Alexandria, LA; Pensacola, FL; and Louisville, KY, where Frank eventually met his future wife, Ann Britton Hood, through the Youth Program at Crescent Hill Baptist Church.

Frank attended Atherton High School, leading both the football and swimming teams as captain. He was a passionate and formidable presence on the football field, often found in the opposing team's backfield. His summers were often spent on camping trips and adventures in the Great Smoky Mountains, though spending time with Ann was his top priority. He graduated from Mars Hill College, where he played on the school's first four-year football team.

After college, Frank returned to Louisville to marry Ann in 1969. He started teaching biology and English at Waggener High School, where he relished his role working with youth. An increase in pay and opportunity led, Frank to employment at the Ford Truck Plant and later at Humana, where he excelled in Human Resources being nominated for Employee of the Year.

Frank loved gardening and knew it was time to plant his own seeds as he and Ann began raising three boys, a challenge for anyone. Frank made a transition to working from home. He continued doing some Human Resource consulting work while managing the home and parenting responsibilities until Ann finished her teaching day job. He did some Labor Relations consulting where he represented management in negotiations and learned the difficulty of bringing management and labor together to agree on how to go forward.

Frank was a very outgoing individual who never met a stranger. He was devoted to his church, Southeast Christian, and enjoyed the Bible Studies and other teaching groups that he joined. He cared for many older persons with whom he came in contact and found meaning and purpose in that for a few years. He loved being the chauffeured Santa Claus at Christmas and over the years he fit the Santa suit well.

While the Lord held Frank's love, it was his wife, Ann Hood Brooks who supported him, encouraged him, and nursed him. He loved Ann with all his heart as he loved his boys and the lives they have made for themselves. Frank enjoyed watching the Baltimore Ravens with his adopted son Daivone Hadder. His health challenges through the years haunted him, and he passed from this life to the next with Ann nearby.

He was predeceased in death by his parents and his oldest sister, Mary Kelly Brooks. Frank leaves behind his beloved wife of 55 years, Ann Hood Brooks; sons Britton (Nicole) of Castle, Rock, CO; Brian (Brenda) of Louisville; and Andrew (Taylor) of Denver, CO; along with five grandchildren: Gerrit, Amparo, Oliver, Hayden, and Liam. He is also survived by two brothers, Rev. Nathan C Brooks III (Brenda) of Lynchburg, VA, and George E Brooks of Charlotte, NC, and a sister, Misa Raynor of Belhaven, NC. His extended family hopes to gather in the mountains of North Carolina for Thanksgiving, remembering the blessings he brought into their lives and finding comfort in his release from the pains that troubled him for years.