Allen M Brooks, surrounded by his wife and children, passed away on January 20, 2025 at his residence in Mathiston, Mississippi at the age of 90. Allen was born in Choctaw County, Mississippi on September 28, 1934 to Lloyd Madison Brooks and Lydia Dobbs Brooks. He was quick to share he was born 100 years to the day after his grandpa Allen Henderson Brooks was born.
Allen is a descendant of the Pioneers of Old Choctaw County through Nancy Estes Cocherham. One of his best history stories was of his ancestor riding a stud horse in the 1800s from North Carolina to settle in Choctaw, where Allen Brooks resided until he passed away. Allen was a hard worker his entire life. He began farming and plowing mules for his father at the age of 5. Allen began working in the timber harvesting business at the age of 14. He worked cutting and hauling timber with both mules and equipment in the Kilgore Hills . He also worked at the Sherwood Sawmill. Allen continued his wood working career at Futorian in Eupora, MS, working there until he accepted a job at the B&W steel plant in West Point, MS. He began his career at B&W at the lowest position in the plant and quickly advance to a welding position. When he retired with only an eighth grade education, Allen was in a Welding Specialist position, advancing to the highest position on the floor of the plant. Allen retired from the B&W plant with 35 years of service. Allen was also a Member of Boilermakers Union Local #903, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers. Allen also served his Country in the Army in the 1950’s and was stationed in Alaska. Despite his large family at home, his mother petitioned for him to receive a hardship dismissal to return home to work for the family and farm. Allen’s Dad was disabled as a result of an injury he sustained in World War II. Allen was active his entire life. He joined the Masonic Lodge at a young age and received the Master Mason Degree. He worked and was active in the Masonic Lodge for many years, teaching and encouraging other apprentice Masons and helping them study to obtain their degrees. He sat in many lodges as an officer and helped with conferring degrees. He was elected Master of Mathiston Lodge #491 several times. He was honored with a certificate from the Grand Lodge of the State of Mississippi in 2021, recognizing his 65 years of service in the Masonic Organization. Allen continued his education in the 1970’s, attending EMCC and graduating as a sewing machine technician while working a full time job at B&W.
Allen was also active in his church, Blythe Creek Baptist Church for many years. He was a longtime member of this church, as was his father, mother and grandfather. The Blythe Creek church and grounds sit on lands donated by his family. After he retired, Allen cared for his mother in his home until her passing, as she said his house was as close to home as she could ever be again. Allen was a good man and a servant of the Lord. He gave the last money he had many times in the years when he was raising his family to those in need. He put others’ needs before his own. He simply said, he had all he needed.
Of all of his accomplishments, Allen was most proud of his wife and children. He leaves behind his wife of 61 years, Martha York Brooks of Mathiston, Mississippi; his 3 children, Regina Brooks Snow (Sammy), of Mathiston, Mississippi; Teresa Brooks of Starkville, Mississippi; and Allen Keith Brooks of Mathiston, Mississippi; 2 grandchildren: Joshua Snow of Orlando, Florida, and Heather Snow Young of Eupora, Mississippi; great grandchildren: Xavier Aiden Young and Isobelle Young of Eupora, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by a great granddaughter, Harli Grace Young of Eupora, Mississippi. Everyone in the community knew Allen Brooks or knew of him. He is a legend of his time, tough, loud, loyal and loving to a fault of his family. One could never fill his shoes or work as hard as he did. Not a bad life for a man who was supposed to die as a child from an illness. A man who later became a well loved hero to his family.
Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 23, 2025 at Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman, Mississippi. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Coleman Funeral Home following the visitation. Interment will be at Blythe Creek Cemetery near Mathiston, Mississippi.