COLERAIN, NC – James Henry Brooks, age 86, died on December 21, 2016 at the Sentara Obici Hospital of Suffolk, VA.

Mr. Brooks was born in Bertie County on September 28, 1930 a son of the late John “Jack” Henry and Ludie Holland Brooks.

After serving his country in the Army, he was employed with Evans Construction Company in Edenton, NC. James spent most of his life in Bertie County, however, 20 years were spent living in Ahoskie, NC, where in his later years, he worked as Head Carpenter in the Maintenance Department at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. Mr. Brooks also enjoyed gardening in the spring and summer and keeping his yard looking great all year round.

Besides his parents, James was preceded in death by his loving wife, Bernice Ping Brooks; his daughter, Teresa Brooks Brown; a sister, Sarah Brooks White; and two brothers, John Henry Brooks, and Robert Lee Brooks.

Left to cherish his memory are his two sons, James Lynn Brooks and wife Karen of Colerain, NC, and Thomas Wayne Brooks and wife, Sandy of Chesapeake, VA; his son-in-law, Charlie Brown of Trap, NC; two sisters, Dorothy Brooks Baker of Merry Hill, NC, and Eleanor Brooks Gahagan of Dayton, PA; and two brothers, Thomas Alton Brooks and wife, Sylvia, and Dennis Roland Brooks of Merry Hill, NC. Also surviving is eight grandchildren, Christie, Tonia, Jimi, Chris, Nate, Mandi, Kathleen, and Brittany; and fourteen great grandchildren, Adam, Gage, Dylan, James, Sebastian, Will, Jackson, Mason, Brody, Deanna, Brie, Jailyn, Sophia, and Reese; and his beloved cat, “Kitty Boo”.

The family will receive friends at the home.

A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at 1:00 pm at the Colerain Baptist Church, Colerain, NC, with Rev. Gary Saffell officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens, Ahoskie, NC.

Memorial contributions may be made directly to the Colerain Baptist Church or you may donate online by visiting www.tmcfunding.com/search, type James Brooks.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service – Ahoskie Chapel is handling the arrangements for the Brooks family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.