Margaret S. Brooks | Eastern NC Now

    Mrs. Margaret Winstead Sawyer Brooks, age 86, a resident of Belhaven died Saturday May 14, 2016 at the Golden Living Nursing Center of Greenville, NC.

    A funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Wednesday May 18, 2016 at West Belhaven Church of Christ officiated by James Scheffler. Entombment will follow in Belhaven Community Cemetery. Jeremy Eldridge, Christopher Eldridge, John P. Brooks III, Allen Hubers, Brian Jackson and Will Brooks will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Marshall Marslender, Danny Marslender, Delbert Armstrong, Jr., Darren Armstrong, Kevin Armstrong, Doug Stalls and Jimmy Stalls.

    The family will receive friends 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday May 17, 2016 at West Belhaven Church of Christ. The family will also receive friends other times at the home of Mrs. Margaret's sister: Joan Armstrong located at 757 Latham Street, Belhaven.

    Mrs. Margaret was born in Beaufort County on January 2, 1930 daughter of the late Thad Sawyer and the late Ernestine Aleene Jackson Sawyer. On September 9, 1946 she married John Petegrew "J.P." Brooks who preceded her in death on February 15, 2000. Her loving spirit was evident by when the need arrived she gladly welcomed two nieces and a nephew into her home and raised them as her own children. In the work force Mrs. Margaret was an employee of the month at National Spinning in 1963. She later was co-owner/operator of Brooks' Grill and Trailer Park in Pantego. There she was a role model for many children of northeastern Beaufort County. Mrs. Margaret also was a volunteer at Pungo District Hospital. Mrs. Margaret was a member of West Belhaven Church of Christ where she was also a longtime choir member.

    Survivors include a son: John P. "Johnny" Brooks, Jr. and his wife Trudy of Greenville; a daughter: Deborah B. Eldridge of Belhaven; two nieces who became her daughters: Kathleen B. Hubers and her husband Roy of Pantego and Christine B. Jackson and her husband Raymond of Washington and a nephew who became her son: Buddy Brooks and his wife Amy of Washington; a brother: Thad Thomas "Tommy" Sawyer of Chesapeake, VA; three sisters: Aleene S. Stalls of Plymouth, Lucille S. Brockinton of Chesapeake, VA and Joan S. Armstrong of Belhaven; eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Mrs. Margaret was predeceased by a grandson: Mark David Brooks.

    Flowers are welcome and appreciated and the family kindly asks for any memorial contributions to be made to West Belhaven Church of Christ, Building Fund, 1080 West Main Street, Belhaven, NC 27810.

    Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

    Paul Funeral Home of Belhaven is honored to serve Mrs. Margaret's family.