My Friend, My Hero, My Grandfather

Rev. Thomas "Happy Tom" and Entha Brooks

When I was growing up I had very few people I could look up to as a role model. My Dad was never home and by the time he did show up he was at least drinking, if not drunk. He would get mean when he was drinking, not so much to us children, but to my mom, going so far as putting a pistol in her mouth and threatening her. More than one time I had to sneak out of the house and have a neighbor call police. He never was arrested over these incidents because he was friends with most of the officers. They would either just calm him down and threaten to take him to jail if they came back or take him somewhere for the night. There was constant arguing and fighting in our house and that seemed to be the norm around our entire  neighborhood. I knew I couldn't live like that. I didn't want to follow in those footsteps. I never knew my father as a "Dad." My mother and father finally divorced when I was ten and after that I very seldom saw him. After being discharged from the Navy I went to work as a Police Officer in Greenwood, SC where he was living. He still drank heavily but his attitude had mellowed. We never had a "Father/Son" relationship but did, in later years, become friends.

I did have two people in my life I really looked up to and they inspired me in different ways. First there was my older, half-brother, Eddie who pushed me in everything I did. He taught me to always push myself and never give up. To go after what I wanted and not let anyone tell me I couldn't do whatever I wanted in life. The second was my Grandfather. He is the subject of this blog.

He was my real hero and role model. He was the point of stability I needed in my life. As a child I would go to see my mother's family frequently. Occasionally I would stay with my Grandmother and Grandfather for a couple of days to a week at a time on their farm in Hodges, just north of Greenwood, SC. It was a totally different world there. I would see the way they treated each other, the respect and real love. My Grandfather would reach over and pat my Grandmother on the back as we were riding down the road and tell her, "You know I love you Mommy." She would look back at him and just smile. He would then laugh out loud. They were deeply in love and didn't mind the world seeing it. I never heard a cross word between them. If they did ever argue they kept it from us kids. He worked hard on the farm and preached hard at church and revivals around the country. He believed in the Lord with all his heart and I know with all my heart the Lord believed in him.

I know he was only a man and made mistakes in his life as we all do but, in my eyes he walked on water.

About this time of year, seventeen years ago, I met my future in-laws for the first time. I was nervous and hoping to fit in. They were good, God fearing people and as we talked before dinner they mentioned their Church and it was a Church of God in Saluda. I casually mentioned that my Grandfather was a Church of God Minister and they asked who he was. They knew him and loved him. They had been to revivals he had preached. I learned that Diane's Uncle, who was also a Church of God Minister, knew him and had gone to hear him preach. I knew that he was well known, liked and respected in and around Greenwood but I didn't know just how far his legacy went. I was really surprised that a backwoods farmer and preacher had touched so many people and made such a positive influence in their lives.

Only us "older folks" remember him now as he died in 1975. I don't want his memory to fade or disappear completely, if nothing more than in the hearts and minds of his descendants. At the very least I want my children and their children to know who he was and the miracles he lived through his total commitment to our Lord. If others find this blog and it helps them to know him that will be wonderful.

The "Experiences" of Happy Tom Brooks

"These Experiences were written as told to us by Happy Tom Brooks. They are written in the same words as he himself would have related them to you. We have neither changed nor added to his life story. We felt that it needed to be written so that others could share the wonderful things God did for him. We hope that as you read it, you will feel the need to draw closer to God and that you will be truly blessed as we have been thru writing it. Happy Tom Brooks was truly one of the greatest men in the Church of God and we, his children, feel he is one of the greatest men we have ever known. We hope that our children and the generations to come will be able to tell the experiences of their Grandfather and Great Grandfather through this book. We love him, and deeply respected and appreciated the life that he lived."

Darleen Brooks Davis

I don't know how often I will get to update as I do have very little time to write but I will keep it coming as often as possible. I do hope that everyone who finds and enjoys this will sign on as a follower of this blog. Please feel free to make comments and I would appreciate anyone with any information on Reverend Thomas "Happy Tom" Brooks to contact me, either through this blog or email me direct at: tdtaylor83@aol.com. Please put Happy Tom Brooks in the subject line so I know that it is not spam.

Thank You for reading.