WESTON — To commemorate the 100th birthday of Lydie Brooks Grimsley, the descendants of her parents, Charlie Monroe Brooks and Fannie F. Goare Brooks, held a delightful reunion on June 30. Relatives gathered at Weston Baptist Church, the family’s longtime place of worship.
A total of 65 people from three states and 21 different towns attended. Charlie and Fannie Brooks were the parents of 12 children, the last of whom died at age 97 in 2004, and 15 grandchildren. All eight of their living grandchildren were among those present. A special guest was Bill Goare of Richland, a nephew of Fannie Goare Brooks and the only surviving first cousin of the 12 Brooks children on their mother’s side.
A bountiful overflow meal filled the church fellowship hall. Dr. Bobby Turner, a grandson-in-law of Ada Brooks Spann, the Brooks’ oldest daughter, said the blessing and gave thanks for the gathering. After lunch, a family portrait was made on the front steps of the church building by Dana Brightwell Norris and Jerre Norris of Americus. Dana is a great-granddaughter of Charlie and Fannie Brooks.
Charlie and Fannie Brooks were the parents of the following children who lived to adulthood: Lester Dewey Brooks, Walter C. “Bud” Brooks, Ada Brooks Spann, Annibel Brooks Brightwell, Emmett E. “Nuns” Brooks, Vera Mae Brooks, C. Lynn Brooks, Alice Brooks Ball, Lucile Brooks Brightwell, and Lydie Brooks Grimsley.
A cake and family portraits decorated a table in honor of Lydie Grimsley’s 100th birthday. She was born on June 12, 1918. She and her siblings lost their father just five months later in the flu epidemic of 1918. Mrs. Grimsley lived until 1989.
Deena Grimsley, one of the organizers of the reunion, played “Happy Birthday” on the piano in recognition of her mother-in-law’s birthday. The family sang along in honor of Bill Goare’s upcoming 94th birthday on July 26. The family enjoyed sharing stories of Lydie Grimsley’s life and her close association with her favorite cousin, Addie Goare Thomason. A list of seven relatives who have died since the family’s last reunion in 2011 was read by Steve Short, an organizer as well.
Tara Brooks Horton and Keith Horton of Cabot, Ark., a suburb of Little Rock, were recognized for traveling the greatest distance to attend – more than 575 miles.
Before the day ended, a generous monetary collection was taken up to be donated to the church.
Among those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Brooks of Lumpkin; Teresa Brooks Freeman, Mr. and Mrs. Rex Icard and Hunter Icard, all of Dawson; Paige Brooks Garey of Leesburg; Anita Spann Dillard and Melba Spann Clements, both of Americus; Dr. and Mrs. Bobby Turner of Martinez; Stephanie J. Young of Plains; Mr. and Mrs. Jack Short and Steve Short, all of Americus; Mr. and Mrs. Shane Short, Katherine Short, Landry Short and Madeline Short, of Bogart; Mr. and Mrs. Brian Short, Gracie Short and Christian Short of Cumming;
Kaye G. Brightwell Francis, Mr. and Mrs. Jerre Norris and Chase Norris, all of Americus; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Martin and Thomas Martin of Jefferson; Pat P. Brooks of Montgomery, Ala.; Mr. and Mrs. Keith Horton of Cabot, Ark.; Carolyn A. Ball of Austell; Jeanette Brightwell and Melanie Brightwell, both of Sharpsburg; Debra Brightwell of Stone Mountain;
Angelyn Grimsley West of Preston; Mr. and Mrs. Jay Hart, Mackenzie Hart Greene, Owen Greene and Berkley Greene, Avery Hart and Landry Hart, all of Americus; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Grimsley; Mr. and Mrs. Ben Grimsley, Bo Grimsley, Sutton Grimsley and Levi Grimsley, all of Weston; Spence Grimsley and Addison Grimsley of Preston; and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Finlayson, Melanie Finlayson, Bailey Finlayson and Libby Finlayson, all of Leesburg.
In addition to Bill Goare, other relatives attending were Larry Goare of Atlanta; and Marsha Thomason Blocker of Madison, Ala.; Swanton Thomason of Phenix City, Ala.; and Kandace Thomason Plinske of Smiths Station, Ala.
— Submitted by Steve Short