William Lloyd Brooks

William Lloyd Brooks (“Bill”), retired attorney and judge, passed away peacefully at his home in Nashville, TN, at age eighty-three. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Hunter Brooks and Frances Harbison Brooks. He is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Margaret Dortch Brooks; his daughter, Virginia Brooks Robinson (Michael), of New Canaan, CT; his son, William Brooks (DeShea), of Atlanta, GA; and five grandchildren: Brooks Robinson, Lawrence Robinson, William Brooks, Carter Brooks, and Caroline Brooks. He is also survived by his brother, John Brooks III (Andrea); his sisters, Betty Brooks and Carole Brooks Galyon (John), of Knoxville, TN; and his sister-in-law, Louise Dortch Green (Walter), of Franklin, TN; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Bill practiced law in Tennessee for over fifty-five years, beginning in 1966—both in private practice (mostly with the Waller firm, and earlier with the Trabue firm), and also as house counsel for two different companies. He received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 1963 and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1966. He also earned a Master of Education degree from Vanderbilt in Human Development Counseling in 1992. He served his country as a member of the Tennessee Air National Guard for six years, from 1966 to 1972.

Bill often performed pro bono legal work, and in 1999, he was awarded the Nashville Bar Association’s Volunteer of the Year Award for his services benefiting the indigent. In addition to his law and counseling work, Bill also served as Judge of the Belle Meade City Municipal Court for approximately ten years, beginning in 2006.

Bill enjoyed reading, golf, and traveling—mostly to visit his children and grandchildren, all of whom he called his “Perfects,” and to the family cottage in Monteagle, TN. Bill adored his family and especially enjoyed telling stories and sharing life lessons with them and their friends. He had a quick wit and a keen ability to assign nicknames, and in return, earned the nicknames “Big Dude” and “Poppy.” Bill could dance as well as he wanted to, and when he broke out on the dance floor with his famous rubber-legging, people would often circle around to watch—and at times, even applaud.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8, at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Road, in Nashville. The family will receive visitors beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the church prior to the service. A private interment for the family will be held at St. John’s Churchyard at Ashwood, Columbia, TN. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, 311 W. 7th, Columbia, TN 38401; or St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Road, Nashville, TN 37205.