Ernestine Brooks

Ernestine was born October 20, 1929, in Athens, GA, and moved to Columbus when still a baby. She graduated from Jordan High School. After raising her children, she worked in the Admitting Office of St. Francis Hospital from which she retired. Following her retirement, she worked for many years as Executive Assistant at Oak Manor.

First and foremost, Ernestine loved her family. She was devoted to her two children and doted on her three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The “greats,” as she called them, brought their “GiGi” such fun in her later years. Being born in Athens, it is no surprise that she was a loyal Georgia Bulldog fan. Ernestine enjoyed playing cards with friends, taking morning walks, reading, shopping and going out to eat with her family, and crossword/word game books. She was known by all for her sweet personality and her bright blue eyes.

Survivors include her daughter, Laura Brooks Ovdenk (Pete) of Roswell, GA; daughter-in-law, Kathy Roper Brooks of Gainesville, GA; grandchildren, Jenny Ovdenk Haley (Rand) of Roswell, GA, Angie Brooks Kozee (Shane) of Columbus, GA, Greg Brooks (Tara) of Hoschton, GA; great-grandchildren, Julia Haley, Clara Haley, Cameron Kozee, Jaxson Kozee, Jayden-Ethen Kozee, Noah Brooks, Cole Brooks, and Ella Brooks; sisters, Mary Eidam Brooks and Paula Eidam of Columbus, GA; sister-in-law Juanita Brooks Mathis (Mike) of Columbus, GA, and numerous other family members and friends.

A memorial service to celebrate Ernestine’s life will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at 10:00 AM in the Mill Room at Striffler-Hamby, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31907. Her grandson, Greg Brooks, will officiate. The family will greet friends following the service. Her ashes will be scattered by her family at a later time.

To honor Ernestine’s wish that all children be happy and healthy, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations in her memory be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.STJude.org, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, www.choa.org, 1577 Northeast Expressway, Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30329.

To sign the online guest registry, please visit www.shcolumbus.com.