Funeral services for Preston Kelly Brooks, Sr., 59, of Oxford and formerly of Greenville will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 21, 2013 at Hollandale Baptist Church, Hollandale, MS. Burial will be in Greenville Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
Born on April 5, 1954 he went home to meet his Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 18, 2013 after a lengthy battle with cancer. His life was filled with love and joy for his family and many friends. He was born in Greenwood, MS and lived in Valdosta, GA until the age of 5 when he moved to Hollandale, MS. He graduated from Deer Creek Academy in Arcola, MS in 1972 and went on to Mississippi Delta Community College on a football scholarship. After graduating from MDCC, he went to flight school in Dallas, TX and received his commercial aviation license. At that time he came back to Hollandale and received crop dusting lessons from Dottie Etheridge and immediately fell in love with the trade. He soon after married Grace Bratton in August of 1978 and they moved to Greenville, MS where they lived for 23 years. During his time in Greenville, he played an active role in both the Greenville Youth Soccer Association and the Washington School Booster Club. He went to work for Longwood Flying Service in 1979 and finished his career there after 32 years when he retired due to health concerns. In 2011, he was awarded the pilot of the year from the MAAA. In retirement he moved to Oxford, MS where he was a member of First Baptist Church KTO sunday school class.
He is survived by his wife Grace Bratton Brooks; two sons, Preston Kelly Brooks, Jr. of Oxford, and Edward Drew Brooks (Tiffany) of Clinton, MS; mother, Bebe Ann Brooks of Hollandale; brother, Clay Brooks (Anita); sister, Ruthie Rose; grandchildren, Kaytlin Brooks and Kinley Brooks. His father, Preston Douglas Brooks, preceded him in death in February, 2013.
The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, December 20, 2013 at Boone Funeral Home, Greenville and on Saturday, December 21, 2013 one hour prior to services at the church. Dr. Eric Hankins will officate.
Memorials may be made to the Baptist Children’s Village, 114 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157(www.baptistchildrensvillage.com); or to American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 (donate.cancer.org).