Charles A. Brooks, Jr.

Charles A. Brooks, Jr. died on July 5, 2022 at his home in Lexington, SC. “Charlie” was best known in his private life for his intense love of his family and the game of golf. He was an active member of Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church and was a man of integrity.

After his birth December 6, 1926 in Menlo, Georgia, to Jessie Alyce Stephenson Brooks and Charles Alston Brooks, Sr., he and his family moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1930. He attended Central High School in Chattanooga. After high school, Charlie served in the US Navy from November 28, 1944 – July 14, 1946 as a Pharmacist’s Mate aboard the USS Tangier in Pacific Theater. He then attended Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee, which gave him his basic mathematics foundation. He followed this with additional undergraduate work in accounting at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1952 - 1954.

Charles Brooks’ professional life centered on people, numbers, programming, budgets, universities, computers, education, finances and legislative issues associated with the above. He ultimately became the Director of the State Budget Division of the State Budget and Control Board in South Carolina from January 1988 through December 1993. Charlie was brilliant and his ability to work with people, make decisions and see those decisions come into play and be monitored appropriately gave him a career par excellence.

Early in his professional life, he worked with six different companies at various levels of operations, programming, systems design and supervision at Union Carbide in Oak Ridge, TN. During these 18 years, he also supervised data processing at Anaconda Aluminum Co., Amarlite Division, Atlanta, Georgia.

From July 1967 to April 1969, he was responsible for Computer Programming Technology at Atlanta Area Technical College. This curriculum ultimately became a model for all technical colleges in Georgia. Following this work, he developed a computerized business information system for the University of Georgia. This included a statewide information system and uniform accounting system, which became a model for other universities including Clemson University. While living in Athens, Charles received his Master’s degree from the University of Georgia in Education Administration in 1974.

His work in this field was followed by improving and extending management information systems through computerization in South Carolina. Charles was admitted to the USC Doctorate Program in Higher Education Administration in 1975 and completed 20 semester hours toward the degree.

Working with the SC Commission on Higher Education as coordinator of management information systems and financial affairs, he ultimately became responsible for coordinating budget requests and allocating State funds for these requests. As Associate Commissioner for Financial Affairs of Higher Education, his work also included operating budgets and providing liaison between the General Assembly and other intra- and interstate agencies.

As Director of the Budget Division of the State Budget and Control Board, and later in management consulting in government relations, higher education business, governmental agency operations, and legislative liaison, he compiled budget requests from all state agencies and provided direction in developing and implementing more than 100 agency budgets. He assisted the General Assembly in making decisions on appropriations and monitored adherence of the legislative intent of the appropriations.

Many would call Charlie a wizard (positive version), but his family remembers his fun-loving, caring side. He enjoyed cooking his special meals, playing cards and serving malted milk balls, boating with his children – all the while teaching and encouraging them in life lessons. Charlie loved the water and owned more than one home on the water making family events and socials so accommodating. Charlie and his wife, Carolyn, loved to travel while often finding golf destinations on their route. They saw all 50 states and over 30 countries.

Charlie adored his wife, Carolyn. His five children, Gail (Bill) Swiggart of Nashville, TN, Charles III (Laina) Brooks of Knoxville, TN, Marie (Bill) Sawyer of Merritt Island, FL, Amy (Michael) Etchison of Orlando, FL and Lisa (Norman) Asmer of West Columbia, SC will miss his presence and all he brought to their lives. Other survivors include his only brother, Oscar, of Springfield, MD; 18 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by one sister, Alyce B. Cobleigh.

All services for Charlie, 95, will be held at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, with family receiving friends Friday, July 8 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, July 9 at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow the service at Woodridge Memorial Gardens.

Special thanks to Nuclear Care Partnership and Amedisys Hospice Care.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Brooks family.