Brooks Griffith

A. Brooks Griffith, 74, of Jonesboro, died Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at NEA Baptist Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Born in Bay, Brooks was a 1956 graduate of Bay High School and lived most of his adult life in Jonesboro. Brooks operated Dixie Mart Furniture Store in Jonesboro before beginning a career in city and state government. Brooks served as Director of Public Works for Jonesboro Mayor Neil Stallings and was then appointed Coordinator of the Department of Public Safety by Gov. Dale Bumpers and Gov. David Pryor. Following government service, Brooks served as Executive Director of Arkansas Good Roads Transportation Council.

In 1978, Brooks returned to Jonesboro and began a 22-year career with Town and Country International Harvester before retirement. Brooks was not satisfied as a retiree and in 2000 established BGI Small Engines and it continues today operating with basically the same personnel which started it.

Brooks was a member of Forest Home Church of the Nazarene where he was a Sunday school teacher and a church prayer warrior. He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnny Brooks Griffith and Annie Blalock Griffith, his step mother who raised him, Willie Griffith, and 4 brothers: Austin Griffith, Doyle Wayne Griffith, Raymond K. Allen, and Lyman C. Allen and his wife Earnesteen Allen.

Survivors include his wife, Sonja Moore Griffith of the home;

1 daughter and son-in-law: Cari and Kaut White of Jonesboro;

1 son, Kevin Brooks Griffith of New Orleans;

5 sisters: Wanda Helen Gray of West Memphis, Margie Moon of Jonesboro, Betty Moon of Bay, Judy Hogan (Garry) of Trumann, and Brenda Colbert (Larry) of Bay;

4 grandchildren: Asher Griffith, Revel Griffith, Kali Griffith and Abbi Griffith;

A special niece, Deb Parker of Plano, Texas, a special nephew, Dan Allen of Jonesboro, a special cousin and spouse: Verlon and Linda Spencer of Bay;

His BGI family: Kay Faulkner, Joe Parks and Claude Harp; and many other nephews, nieces and cousins.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday morning at 10:00 in Forest Home Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Ken Stallings and Rev. Peter Kline officiating with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Immediately following the service, the Griffith family will welcome family and friends to fellowship and visit in the church gym until 12:30. Following the fellowship, the funeral procession will depart for Nettleton Cemetery for a 1:00 graveside committal service.

Active pallbearers include Joe Smith, Ben Bush, Sam Cron, Lavaughn Morgan, Grady Walker, Joe Taylor, Claude Harp and Joe Parks. Honorary pallbearers include Doyle Gilliam, Verlon Spencer, Sloan Rainwater, Phil Bridger, Neal Moore, Johnny Moore and members of the Pastor’s Sunday school class and the Friendship Sunday school class.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that consideration be given to Forest Home Church of the Nazarene Building Fund, 1922 Race St., Jonesboro, AR 72401.