Joe D. Brooks Iii

Joe D. “Duck River Joe” Brooks, III, age 57, of Unionville, passed away on Monday, July 10, at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital, in Murfreesboro.

Joe was born on December 28, 1959, in Columbia, the son of Joe D. Brooks, Jr., and April Capps Brooks.

Joe graduated from Columbia Central High School in 1978 and received a Bachelor of Science Degree from MTSU in 1986. While in high school, he was ranked All State 2nd Chair French Horn. During his time at MTSU, he sat 1st Chair French Horn was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and the Army ROTC. Joe served his country in the United States Army during Desert Storm and attained the rank of Major. He also played French Horn in the Columbia Community Band.

Joe had a deep passion for the Duck River Water Shed and was instrumental in providing documentation and historical knowledge which helped secure a grant to rebuild a Grist Mill at the Henry Horton State Park. The Grist Mill plans include an interpretive area to display some of Joe’s historic work.

In addition to his parents, Joe is survived by one sister, Lorrie (Jeff) Slaughter of Thompson Station; one brother, Jeffrey (Robin) Brooks of Columbia; two nephews, Cameron (Amanda) Mann and Jonathan (Laura) Mann and one niece, Skylar (Grace) Brooks; one great-nephew, Abner Mann and two great-nieces, Jenna and Emma Mann; Dear friends Debbie Brooks Spears, Debbie Dye Flowers and Susan Crowder Grimes; Good buddies Mousa and Foxy. Joe was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Joe D. and Katherine Brooks and maternal grandparents, Miles and Marjorie Capps.

A memorial service for Joe will be conducted Sunday, July 23, at 4:00 P.M. in the chapel of Williams Funeral Home in Columbia with Vernon Brooks officiating. The family will visit with friends on Sunday, July 23, from 2:00 P.M. until service time at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Maury County Animal Shelter in honor of Joe’s love of animals.