Clara Belle Brooks

The Walton Tribune April 23, 2008

Clara Brooks Bolton

Clara Brooks Bolton, 86, of Monroe died on April 17, 2008 She was born Clara Belle Dunahoo to John and Beulah Watson Dunahoo on Aug. 22, 1921, she is the last of the eight siblings to go to be with Jesus.

She married her first love, Harold "Pete" Brooks in Spring on April 27, 1941. She and Pete had four children, Bob, Jayne, Carol and David Brooks.

Clara and Pete opened Brooks Bakery in 1950 which became the "place to be" for coffee and pastries for 23 years. She and Pete worked long hours at the bakery but still made time for football games, basketball games, or Little League games to watch her children. She worked concession stands, volunteered for Scout activities, drum and bugle corps functions or anything else the kids were involved in. Clara was a charter member of the local Pilot Club. She was president of the Walton County united Church Women's Association for several terms.

She was very active in church as long as health allowed and was a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church which originated in the bakery facility. She taught Sunday School along with Pete for many years. She attended Mercer's Extension Department of Christian Education along with Pete and successfully graduated. She was a member of the Eastern Star for 56 years. She was advanced through the ranks to Worthy Matron of the local Eastern Star Order, she was one of the first groups of "Grey" lady volunteers at Walton County Hospital and transitioned through the "Pink" ladies to the "Ladies' Auxilliary" for over 40 years. At the 1999 Auxiliary awards luncheon, she had 22,374 career volunteer hours to her credit with the hospital.

Clara embarked on yet another venture after Pete's death as she worked with mentally challenged boys and girls for over ten years in various state health care half way facilities trying to train them for everyday life outside a mental hospital.

Some 25 years after Pete's death, Clara added another love to her family when she married Hugh Bolton.

Surviving are husband: Hugh Bolton of Monroe; daughters and sons-in-law: Jayne and Alan Bolton of Monroe, Carol B. and Gene Fiala of Robertsdale, AL; sons and daughter-in-law: Bob Brooks of Monroe, David and Obie Brooks of Colbert; step sons and daughters-in-law: Reverend James and Debbie Bolton of Monroe, Bobby and Jane Bolton of Ellenwood; 13 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 3 pm on Saturday, April 19th at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Byran Amour and the Rev. Glen Money officiating. Interment followed at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

Meadows Funeral Home, Inc. was in charge of arrangements.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 5 2017, 16:04:59 UTC