Mr. James BrooksMr. James Brooks was reared in the small town of South Hill, VA. Being the only child of a tobacco farmer, he spent his childhood years working in the tobacco fields on the “Brooks Farm.” He attended Mecklenburg County public schools and graduated in 1954. He continued his education at Ferrum College for two years then transferred to what is now Virginia Tech where he received a bachelor of science degree in 1959 and a master’s degree in agriculture education in 1970.

In 1959, Mr. Brooks voluntarily joined the U.S. Army for two years. After his discharge in 1961, he spent the next 37 years working for the Mecklenburg County Public School Board until retirement in 1998. He taught agriculture and science at Parkview Middle School and Parkview High School. He served as South Hill Elementary School Principal for six years. In 1977, he became the Mecklenburg County Public Schools’ Vocational Director for 21 years.

In 1964, Mr. Brooks married Arlene Sheffield who was also a Mecklenburg teacher. They have 2 sons and one grandson. Mr. Brooks started attending Ephesus Baptist Church in South Hill at a very young age. Over the years, he has been an adult Sunday school teacher, Sunday school director, choir member and a deacon for 50 plus years. Mr. Brooks continues to find strength in his faith; since admission to the Hundley Center in 2018, he has completely read through his Bible.

The W.S. Hundley Center, South Hill

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