John Bill Brooks

Dr. John Bill Brooks, age 89, passed away peacefully Saturday evening, March 9, 2019, at his home in Woodstock, GA, surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born August 9, 1929, to the late Walter Brooks and the late Cosbie Amburn Brooks in Isabella, TN. He was a member of Woodstock First Baptist Church and taught Sunday School for 25 years. He was a graduate of Murphy High School, earned his B.S. Degree from Western Carolina University, attended Emory University for 2 years, and was sponsored by the Center for Disease Control to receive his Ph.D. degree at Virginia Tech. He was employed by the C.D.C. for forty years as a research scientist, working with research centers in Egypt, Greece, Germany, France, England, Argentina, and St. Judes hospital in Memphis, TN. In 1991, he was awarded the Kimball Science Award for Excellence in Research and had 89 publications in the Journal of Medicine. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge in McCaysville, GA and proudly served his country in Germany during the Korean War. He grew up on Wolf Creek with his best friend, Troy Simonds. They were voted in High School as the most likely to be country music stars. Troy was successful in his love for music. But, as a young teenager, Bill remembered leaning on an oak tree at the edge of Wolf Creek Cemetery, chewing on a sassafrass stick wondering if he would ever amount to anything. Well, his dream in life was accomplished. He wanted to inspire others to take advantage of the opportunities that come their way in life. Dr. Brooks was preceded in death by his brothers, Clarence Brooks, Fred Brooks, and Cargus Brooks, and sisters, Cosbie Jones, Evelyn Boggs, and Frances Simonds.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Mary Jane Hughes Brooks, two sons and daughters-in-law, Greer and Emelia Brooks of Woodstock, GA, and Mark and Tammy Brooks of Murphy, NC, six grandchildren, Amy Brooks, Wesley Brooks, Robin Brooks, Sean Brooks, David Brooks, and Lauren Brooks, one sister, Gretta Ross of Mineral Bluff, GA, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at 1:00 PM from the Finch-Cochran Funeral Home Chapel of McCaysville, with eulogy by David Brooks, Rev. Matthew McDaniel officiating. Music will be by Ryan Norton. Pallbearers: Samuel Shields, Dan Hughes, Richard Martin, Phillip Shields, Steven Shields, and David Brooks. Honorary pallbearers: David Hughes, Blake Hughes, Greg Brooks, and Dan Ross. Interment will follow in the Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery at Wolf Creek. Full military honors will be provided by the North Georgia Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday, March 13, 2019, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Arrangements entrusted to the Finch-Cochran Funeral Home of McCaysville, GA. You may send your condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.