Brooks Campbell

January 3, 1942 – February 18, 2025

"Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master" (Matthew 25:23)

Brooks Campbell passed away quietly and peacefully on February 18, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama at the age of 83. Born on a snowy day in January 1942 in Cleburne County, Alabama, Brooks grew up in Heflin and graduated from Anniston High School in 1959. He attended Jacksonville State University and graduated from Auburn University with a degree in industrial engineering.

Brooks served as an Alabama State Trooper from 1960-1970 where he was fortunate to travel with legendary football coaches, Shug Jordan and Bear Bryant, and amassed a lifetime of tall tales about each of the rival coaches. On a routine patrol, he also received a special commendation for his lifesaving efforts by single-handedly pulling a young couple from a burning vehicle. Also while serving as an Alabama State Trooper, he met and married a beautiful young secretary working for his boss at the Department of Public Safety. They married in November of 1962 in Montgomery and celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary last fall. Together they raised a son and a daughter and enjoyed many adventures together.

Upon receiving his degree from Auburn in 1971, Brooks was recruited by Milliken Mills to work in Greensboro, NC and then moved to West Point Pepperell (later acquired by West Point Stevens) to work in various textile mills across the company’s footprint before landing a job in purchasing at the corporate headquarters in West Point, Georgia. As business and industry realized that computers were bound to replace filing systems and other administrative functions in the 1970s, Brooks raised his hand to be trained in COBOL and to program and automate West Point Pepperell’s purchasing systems. He became so adept at converting processes into computer-adapted languages that he was hired by other smaller businesses as a consultant to automate and digitize their functions -- including the law firm of Johnson, Caldwell & McCoy in Lanett, Alabama – where he established lifelong clients and friendships.

Brooks was known for his keen mind, his quick wit, his kind heart, and his loyalty to family, friends and his faith. He served as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Lanett for many years and in several community organizations and for charities throughout East Alabama and West Georgia. He was the best at being a dependable volunteer who got there before anyone else and stayed long after everyone left. He enjoyed working with his hands by building and restoring cars, trucks, guns, clocks, and furniture and by preparing, grilling, stir-frying or smoking various foods and dishes for his friends and family.

Traveling was one of his favorite pastimes, and despite the health challenges of his wife, he packed up her wheelchair and took her to every US state in the lower 48 and to several European countries in their retirement years. Throughout his lifetime, he owned at least 40 cars, a half dozen boats, a dozen RVs, and a handful of motorcycles, but he was fiercely loyal to only one wife. Their lives were not easy, but they were blessed to have each other for longer than anyone ever expected – including themselves.

Brooks enjoyed a hot, black cup of coffee in the morning before the rest of the house was awake, and he liked to take long walks on the beach by himself right as the sun was rising. He loved seafood, barbecue, good Southern cooking, and a well-prepared steak, and toward the end of his life, he never met a milkshake he didn’t like. Brooks was a jokester, and if he teased you incessantly, you were a favorite of his. His sarcasm and one-liners were legendary, and his wisdom and character were treasured. He was a loyal and faithful friend to many; a devoted, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle; and generally, the kind of person you wished everyone could or would be.

Brooks is preceded in death by his son, his sister and his parents and is survived by his wife and daughter. He’s also survived by his son-in-law, daughter-in-law, four grandsons and a grand-son-in-law, a granddaughter and a grand-daughter-in-law and one great granddaughter. Brooks also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and neighbors who will miss his wisdom, insights, stories, jokes and hugs. He was a great man known and loved by all.

Brooks’ life will be celebrated at a memorial service on Saturday, February 22nd at 11:00 am at Grace Fellowship Church (1300 Columbiana Road, 35216). Family will greet and receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service. The family has asked that memorial donations in his name be made to Grace Fellowship Church or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research with acknowledgement sent to [email protected]. If you would like to send flowers, please send to Ridout’s Valley Chapel, 1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, Alabama 35209 who is handling the arrangements.