William Haiden Bill Brooks, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend passed away peacefully at his home January 14, 2012. Mr. Brooks was born in Columbus, Mississippi, on September 5, 1927 to Mary Russell Brooks and Leonard Isham Brooks. Services will be held Monday, January 16, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Dr. Shawn Parker officiating. The interment will immediately follow at Friendship Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be Sunday, January 15, 2012, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Gunter and Peel Funeral Home. He graduated from S. D. Lee High School in 1945, attended Mississippi State University and was a World War II veteran. Early in his career Mr. Brooks worked as a sales clerk at the Toggery Mens Shop, Assistant Manager at West & McKellar, and as manager of Alex Loeb mens department store in Laurel, Mississippi. Mr. Brooks began his profession with Blue Cross/Blue Shield while in Laurel. He was later transferred with BCBS to Columbus, Mississippi, where he became Regional Director for North Mississippi with six offices. He retired from Blue Cross Blue Shield in 1992 after 38 years of service. Mr. Brooks was appointed by Gov. Bill Waller to the Mississippi State Health Plan & Advisory Council, which approved construction of new hospitals. He was Cub Master of Cub Scouts with Boy Scouts of America with Pact 1 and Pact 3. He was also appointed Cub Scout Commissioner for the Puchmataha Area Council. He was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award, which is the highest award that can be obtained as an adult leader in the Council. As Assistant Scout Master for Troop III Boy Scouts of America sponsored by First Baptist Church, he was awarded the Scouters Key and The Order of the Arrow Badge. He was a volunteer with St. Jude for over nine years and was also active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Mr. Brooks was a long time member of the Columbus Country Club as well as a former member of the Columbus Kiwanis Club. He was a member of First Baptist Church and the Builders Sunday School Class. Mr.Brooks was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Leonard Isham Brooks, Jr. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Wilma Walters Brooks of Columbus, Mississippi; son, William Haiden Brooks, Jr. and his wife, Ann, of Hendersonville, Tennessee; daughter Susan Brooks McCombs and her husband David, of Dallas, Texas; daughter Linda Karen Brooks of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren, Sarah Keating Brooks of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Leslie Brooks McCombs and Emily Haiden McCombs of Dallas, Texas; great grandson Devon Bryan Brooks of Hendersonville, Tennessee; sister Maye Brooks Dix of San Antonio, Texas. Pallbearers will be Wythe Rhett, Robert Rhett, Tim Cox, Danny Mullins, Mark Griffin, and Mitch Griffin. Honorary Pallbearers will be Bobby Redwood, Frank Griffin, Pat Whitaker, Joe Heatherly, Glen Grissom, Fred Hall, and members of the Builders Sunday School Class. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Because He Lives, P. O. Box 829, Columbus, MS 39703, Boy Scouts of America in care of Tom Buckley, Troop 3, P. O. Box 471, Columbus, MS 39703, or the charity of your choice.
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