Gordon Brooks 'Brookie' Powell^[1]

1942 - 2017  (75 years)

• Name	Gordon Brooks 'Brookie' Powell
  Born	6 Aug 1942	Danville, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia
  Gender	Male
  Died	10 Aug 2017	Ball Head Island, North Carolina
  Person ID	I18590	My Reynolds Line | Descendants of Giles Carter of Henrico, Descendants of Edward Powell
  Last Modified	12 Aug 2017

  
  

  Father	Gordon Brooks Powell,   b. 31 Jul 1902, Caswell County, North Carolina ,   d. 9 Feb 1949  (Age 46 years)
  Mother	Sarah Wayne Durham,   b. 3 Aug 1909, Burlington, North Carolina ,   d. 28 Jun 1981, Danville, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia  (Age 71 years)
  Married	10 Jun 1941	Danville, Virginia
  Family ID	F4199	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Living
  Children	1. Living   2. Living
  Last Modified	28 Oct 2017
  Family ID	F6863	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos		Gordon Brooks Powell Jr The Danville Register Sep 25, 1977
  		Brookie Powell p18590BrookiePowell.jpg

  
  

  Histories » Slide Show		Gordon Brooks "Brookie" Powell Jr.-Celebrates 8th Birthday The Danville Bee Aug 14, 1950
  		Gordon Brooks Powell III-Birth Announcement The Danville Register Jul 29, 1972
  		Powell-Crocker Wedding The Danville Register Sep 4, 1966

  
  

• Sources

  [S42] Obituary. Gordon Brooks Powell Jr. August 6, 1942 - August 10, 2017 Obituary Gordon Brooks Powell, Jr., age 75, a resident of Bald Head Island, N.C., formerly of Danville, Va., passed away on August 10, 2017. Brooks was predeceased by his parents, Gordon Brooks Powell and Sarah Durham Powell. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Antoinette (Toni) Crocker Powell, of Bald Head Island; his son, Gordon Brooks Powell, III and wife Kate Stokely Powell, of Danville, Va.; his daughter, Antoinette (Anne) Powell Liles and husband John Liles, of Southport, N.C.; two grandchildren, Gordon Brooks Powell, IV and Virginia Louise Powell, of Danville, Va.; first cousins, William H. Fuller, III and Anne Wayne Fuller Patterson, both of Danville, Va.; nieces, cousins and a huge extended family of former students and beloved friends. Brooks was educated in the Danville Public School System graduating from George Washington High School in 1960. In 1964, he graduated from Campbell University where he earned an AAS degree and a BS degree. In 1968, he earned a MS degree in history from the University of Richmond School of Law. For most of his career, Brooks was a favorite college professor at Danville Community College where he taught criminal law, political science and history, and served on numerous committees. He also was an adjunct faculty member at Averett University teaching business law and comparative government. Brooks gave his all to his students and co-workers, and they have expressed to the family how important he was in their lives. From his hometown of Danville, Brooks enjoyed a very active life. As his mother was one of its first female members, Brooks grew up spending time and playing golf at the Danville Golf Club, and its community was always an important part of his life. He served two terms on its board of directors and two terms as its president. He was the founder of Landmark Properties with interests in community development and local and state politics. He served on the Governor's Highway Safety Commission and the Executive Committee to elect Mills Godwin as Governor of Virginia. He spent decades guiding and mentoring members of the Danville Police Department and served as a board member of Doves Domestic Violence Shelter. Brooks was one of those characters who helps to weave the fabric of a community. There was always a funny story to be told, a political action to consider and to push forward, an opportunity to be seized, a good deed to be done, a person to be helped, and a friend to be made. This was true for both his beloved hometown of Danville, and his retirement home of Bald Head Island. On the Island, he was active as a volunteer with the emergency services department, often rising in the middle of the night to ferry the sick and injured to the hospital on the mainland. In a local article written about his service to others, he was named the "Spirit of Bald Head Island." Locals referred to him as the Island's unofficial mayor as he was always showing up with a smile on his face and inviting someone to sit down and to join the conversation. In 1955, Brooks lost his left arm in a gunfire accident. He chose to live life through his abilities and opportunities as opposed to focusing on what others might have seen as a disability and encouraged others to do the same. He was a true optimist that led his life and others with an unspoken drive to make the best of any situation. Brooks would often say, "If this is the worst thing that ever happens to you, you're going to be alright." A funeral will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Village Chapel on Bald Head Island, N.C., with the Rev. Doctor Garrett Albertson officiating. A reception following the service will be held at the Bald Head Island Association Building. On Monday, August 21, 2017, a private graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. at Green Hill Cemetery with a gathering of friends at the Danville Golf Club in Danville, Va., from 5 p.m. ? 8 p.m. with a moment taken at 6 p.m. to celebrate his life.