Obituary of Lou Berta Brooks

Lou Berta Brooks, twin daughter of Eula C. Harmon Brooks and Drayton K. Brooks, Sr., left this life for the next on May 15, 2014. Visitation will be Saturday, May 17, 4:00-6:00 pm at Thompson Funeral Home on Leesburg Road. A graveside service at Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery will be held Monday, May 19, at 11:00 am. Lou was a lifelong member of Beulah Baptist Church, Horrell Hill, as well as a member of the First Baptist Koinonia Sunday School Class for more than 50 years. After graduating from Lower Richland High School in 1945, Lou worked in the Richland County Auditor's Office to pay her way through college at the University of South Carolina, the first in her family to attend college. In 1950 she proudly graduated with a BA degree in education. After teaching high school English and history in Toccoa, Georgia, for two years, Lou returned to Columbia to work at the Five Points Building and Loan Association. She advanced quickly and was sent to the University of Georgia for a portion of two summers to attend their executive school. She continued working for the Five Points Building and Loan (which became Carolina First and is now TD Bank) for 37 years, retiring in 1989. For nearly 40 years, Lou, who was totally committed to helping others, volunteered with the Columbia Council for Internationals (CCFI) which welcomes and assists international students at USC. She worked tirelessly obtaining, cleaning, repairing, and organizing household items; organizing garage sales and other fundraisers for CCFI; providing weekly lunches for the internationals on the USC campus; transporting students to various places; and promoting the purpose of the organization. Students from India, Greece, South Korea, Hungary, Thailand, and China lived in her home when other accommodations were not available. Lou remained friends with many of these students after their graduation and visited many of them in their home countries. She even hosted a wedding and reception for one Chinese couple in her home. In recognition of her service to the international students, NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, Region VII, which includes seven southern states, Guam and Puerto Rico, awarded Lou their first community volunteer award in 1996. In 1998 she received an award from the United States Information Agency for her service to international visitors. In 2006 the Columbia Council for Internationals awarded her Lifetime Membership in the organization, their highest honor. Lou Brooks truly valued education and was a lifelong learner. Many, many times she assisted others in obtaining the funds to attend college. For years, she watched Jeopardy every single day and even kept notebooks filled with Jeopardy information that was new to her. She regularly attended the Shepherd's Center of Columbia that provides continuing education for seniors. Lou loved travel and always encouraged others to take advantage of every possible opportunity to see the world. She traveled all over the United States and abroad including England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Korea, China, Australia, and the Caribbean. Lou was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters Hattie Byrd Smith Hamer, Mary Kate Polson, Ruth B. Sosbee, Barbara B. Whitener; and her brothers Drayton K. Brooks, Charles E. Brooks, and twin brother Lawrence T. "Pete" Brooks. She is survived by brother Mason R. Brooks (Priscilla); brother-in-law, Danny Sosbee (Barbara); nieces Linda G. Sosbee, Donna L. Sosbee, Norma P. Baugh, Cathy B. Cox, Lynn B. Braun, Debra B. Hallman, and Molly Brooks; nephews Mason R. Brooks, Jr., Michael K. Brooks, Danny Sosbee, Jr., Larry Brooks, Jason Brooks, Don Polson, and Sunny Smith; and a number of great, and great-great nieces and nephews. Lou is also survived by many dearly loved friends all over the world. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her true joy in living and her tireless dedication to helping others. Memorials may be made to Beulah Baptist Church, 9487 Garner's Ferry Road, Hopkins, SC 29061.