A native of Jackson County, Mr. Brooks was the son of the late Roland Brooks Sr and Sadie Park McDonald. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his best friend, and wife of 42 years, Peggy Joyce Patton Brooks and a son, Johnny Brooks.
The voice of Roland Brooks was known across the state of Georgia and the Southeast for his early morning 5AM farm and garden reports that aired on WSB radio, as well as other stations across the state of Georgia, as part of his job with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. He took part in over 10, 500 broadcasts spanning a 30 year Award winning career through the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s until his retirement in 1990. Over two thousand Georgia 4-H Club members had the pleasure of being interviewed by him over the years, many from the Rock Eagle 4-H Center. He was the first co-recipient of the D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in Extension in 1983. He received numerous ACE awards throughout his career for Communication Excellence including the ACE Award of Excellence in 1982 and the ACE Professional Award in 1987. He received five Associated Press Awards for Outstanding Broadcast Journalism, 36 National and International Awards from Agricultural Communicators in Education, and was named Assistant Professor Emeritus of Agriculture in 1991. After retirement, he stayed connected to UGA by volunteering with Alumni groups, being an avid follower and supporter of all UGA athletic programs, and volunteered at UGA Health Services for 13 years, in addition to being an active member of First Baptist Church in Athens.
Survivors include two sons, David Brooks of Athens and Tommy Brooks of Winder; seven grandchildren, Bo Brooks, Brad Taylor, Elizabeth Brooks, Erica Brooks, Abigail Brooks, Elizabeth Manz, and Brandi Sheppard, and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 2PM Friday, March 22nd at First Baptist Church of Athens with Rev. Paul Baxley officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5-7PM Thursday, March 21st at Bernstein Funeral Home.
Jamey Wilkes, Ronny Davis, Bert Hill, Wilson Denney, Brad Lastinger, Al Henderson will serve as pallbearers.
Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com
Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18