Brother Oliver "Howard" Brooks, a longtime resident of Malden, beloved and devoted pastor, teacher, friend, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away May 18, 2021 at the age of 94 while living with his daughter and son-in-law in Slidell, Louisiana.   His work on earth was done. He now is face to face with our Heavenly Father, family, and friends who have gone on before. He showed courage and faith while facing medical challenges with a smile and a joke. He came out a hero and will always be admired and loved.

Brother Brooks graduated from Mississippi College in Canton, Mississippi and New Orleans Theological Seminary in New Orleans, LA. He and his wife, Maxine, were married for 72 years. They had three children, Kristi, Vicci, and Howie.

Brother Brooks was a veteran having served in WWII.  He loved this country. He strongly believed in honoring God and country. He surrendered into the ministry in 1950.   The Holy Spirit spoke to him so strongly that he grabbed anything he could write on to begin to tell as many people as he could about God.  After pastoring some churches in Mississippi, God brought him to Bernie, Mo. where he began teaching high school English and pastor Northside Baptist Church where he was one of the founders.  He then was given the high school English position in Gray Ridge/Richland and stayed until he retired.  For 31 years he taught school while pastoring churches.  He successfully shared the love of God in both positions. After Northside Baptist, he went to Essex Baptist, Spoonerville in Malden, St. Francis Baptist Church, back to Northside Baptist and Bragg City First Baptist where he stayed until he retired two years ago.  One of his honors happened three weeks ago when Bragg City bestowed upon him the honor of Pastor Emeritus.

Brother Brooks was preceded in death by his parents, Charley and Maude Brooks, a son Howie Brooks, a daughter Kristi Mitchell, two sisters, Evelyn Byrd of Seminary, Mississippi, Gertrude Munn, Bogalusa, LA, four brothers, Gaston Brooks, Evan Brooks, Alson Brooks, all of Seminary, Mississippi, and Dub Brooks of Gulfport, Mississippi. He awaits in Heaven to see his beloved wife Maxine, his daughter Vicci and her husband Carroll Fairchild, his grandchildren Jaci/Michael Siebenkittel, Jill Fairchild Rouse, Jennifer Fairchild, Robin/Charles Morris, Eric Fuller, and Curtis/Kim Fuller, and 19 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild, and a host of nieces and nephews, and friends.  He had a deep and unconditional love for his family.

As he said in many sermons from Matthew 11:28-29 ²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 23, 2021 from 1-2 P.M. at the Landess Funeral Home Chapel in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Aulden LeBlanc officiating. Interment will be in the Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Missouri.