James L. Brooks

Commerce - Judge James L. Brooks died at home with family on February 13, 2006. A special thanks to those at Vistacare Hospice who provided such loving care. He was the son of the late Ernest and Rose Haggard Brooks and step-son of the late Hester Tanner Brooks.
He was in the Air Force during WWII and served in Burma, India, and China. After his military service, he graduated from John Marshall Law School in Atlanta. He had the privilege of serving as Superior Court Judge of the Piedmont Circuit from 1976 until 1992. He took great pleasure in playing golf, checkers, and ìset backî with friends and family. He taught the Friendly í57 Sunday School Class at Commerce First Baptist Church for about 30 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife Saralene Moore Brooks and sister Nell Evans. He is survived by his daughter Sharon Conley, son-in-law David, and two grandchildren Hillary and James David, ìJ.D.î He is survived by brothers Emory Brooks, Lawrenceville, Bill Brooks, Smyrna, Dave Brooks, Rome, and sisters, Kathleen Murphy, Chestnut Mountain, Virginia Bradford, Conyers, Emma Dennis, Atlanta, and Patricia Maddox, Statesboro as well as nieces and nephews.
Judge Brooksí greatest joy in life came with his full time occupation as ìGrandpaî to Hillary and ìJ.D.î It was a job in which he greatly excelled.
Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church in Commerce, Georgia on February 16 at 2:00 p.m. officiated by the Reverend Dr. Carlton Allen. Interment will be at Grey Hill Cemetery in Commerce.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to First Baptist Church on Commerce, Vistacare Hospice, and the Palliative Care Service at Athens Regional Medical Center.