Melvin Brooks

Reverend Melvin Brooks, 87 of Cunningham passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 28, 2016. The funeral will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at Sykes Funeral Home Chapel with Allison Dove Gossett, Jim Robinson, and Bob Hargrove Officiating. Burial will follow in Louise United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, July 1, 2016 from 11:00 AM until 8:00 PM and 10:00 AM Saturday, until the hour of service at the funeral home.
Melvin was born in Houston County, TN on August 6, 1928 to Rodney Earl and Ollie Lee Brooks.
In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by Betty, his loving wife of 51 years; a brother, Robert; and a granddaughter, April Owen. He is survived by daughters; Doris Nave, Kathy (Gene) Morgan, and Linda (Mike) Wyatt, granddaughters; Amy (Stewart) Sykes, Alana (Chad) Ward, Linea (Frank) Adcock, Martha (Will) Runkle, Elizabeth (Charlie) Balthrop, Katherine (Josh) Bryce, and Laura Gale Morgan, and great grandchildren; Presleigh, Brylie, and McKinlee Sykes, Maggie Ward, Wyatt Balthrop, and William Runkle, sisters; Thelma Felts, Mildred Sugg, Edith (Neil) Adams, and Evelyn (Lloyd) Burgess, and brother Roscoe (Earline) Brooks, and special friend, Fran Perkins.
In 1943, Melvin left high school to begin work. After returning from Michigan with his wife and two daughters, he was called to the ministry. He reenrolled in Houston County High School and received his diploma in 1961. His classmates honored him by selecting him to speak at his own Baccalaureate Ceremony. He continued his education by obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in 1966 from Austin Peay State College, followed by the completion of his course of study at Emory University for ordination into the Tennessee United Methodist Conference.
In February 1958, Bro. Brooks began his ministry with the United Methodist Church in the Cumberland Furnace Charge. He went on to serve the Southside Charge, Ardmore UMC, Pleasant View/Mallorys Charge, and Nolensville UMC. After retirement he returned to preaching at Stewart UMC, and later to the Cumberland Furnace Charge before his final retirement in 2007. He attended the Tennessee UMC Annual Conference from 1958 until 2015 without ever missing a year. He also spent over 20 years working at Sykes Funeral Home after his initial retirement from the church, where he loved greeting and ministering to people in their time of need. A man of impeccable character, he leaves behind a legacy that taught his family and all he encountered that with hard work, discipline, and faith, all things are possible. He led by an example which combined kindness and strong- will like no other. He leaves his loved ones in tears but with memories of a forever smiling face.
Pallbearers will be Stewart Sykes, Chad Ward, Frank Adcock, Will Runkle, Charlie Balthrop, Josh Bryce, Kerry Dove, Sam Dove, and Ray Baggett.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Central Civitan P. O. Box 45, Cunningham, TN 37052 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org.
Online condolences may be made at Sykes Funeralhome.com