Eloise Pittman Brooks, 88, loving wife of the late John Edward Brooks, peacefully entered into her eternal rest minutes before noon on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 at Gibson Health & Rehabilitation Center.
Funeral services were held in the James Funeral Home Chapel at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning, Aug. 12, with Reverends Jim Emery and Hal Burke officiating. Interment followed in the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Avera.
A native of Dublin, Eloise was the youngest daughter and one of twelve born to the late Doretha Williams Pittman and the late Tobe Andrew Pittman. When Eloise was a young girl, the family relocated to the Matthews-Keysville area where she spent the majority of her life. She attended grade school in Matthews, and then attended High School, where she was a star player on the girls’ basketball team. After graduation, she married the love of her life in 1946. Eloise loved her role as wife and mother, but also worked outside the home. She was a seamstress at Stapleton Garment Company for fourteen years before opening and running the country store in Matthews for the next eleven (11) years. Then in 1977 after graduating from cosmetology school, she opened a shop where she was a barber for the men and beauty salon for the women which she operated until her health decline four years ago. Eloise loved flowers and her passion was working in her flower garden which brought her much joy. When not outside working in the garden, she enjoyed her “mind exercise” by working Word Find and Sudoku puzzles. She also enjoyed fishing, sewing and cooking for family and friends. The oldest resident of Matthews, she was the unofficial mayor. Because she always wore a hat when she was outside, Eloise was known around town as the “Hat Lady”. She loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and was a member of Mt. Moriah Methodist Church. Her out-spoken and straight-forward nature—she did not mince words and you always knew where you stood with her—camouflaged a loving, generous spirit. A woman of great talent, integrity and work ethic, Eloise was greatly respected and loved—she will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Eloise is also preceded in death by her daughter, Debbie Jenkins; and all of her eleven siblings. Survivors include her three children, Wanda B. Usry (David), Mack Brooks and Tim Brooks (Mary Grace); 14 grandchildren, Doug Todd (Rhonda), April Jewett (Rick), Sandie Weeks (Randy), Mack Brooks Jr. (Darlene), David Brooks (Teresa), John Brooks (Mindy), Phyllis Winings, Pam Potter (Geoff), Kim Brooks, Dave Usry, Stan Usry, Emily Edmunds, Nick Edmunds and Megan Edmunds; 20 great grandchildren; a great-great grandchild; a multitude of nieces, nephews and friends. Serving as pallbearers were David Brooks, Mack Brooks Jr., Stan Usry, Steven Usry, Doug Todd and Keith Pittman.
The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to Pleasant Grove Cemetery Fund, 1350 Church Street, Avera GA 30803.
Visit www.JamesFHWrens.com to sign the guestbook and to post condolences.
James Funeral Home, was in charge of arrangements for Eloise Pittman Brooks.