SFC Mark Willie Brooks III (Ret. US Army), 61, of Fayetteville, entered into eternal rest on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at Wayne UNC Healthcare, in Goldsboro. 

Deacon Mark Willie Brooks III entered the world on December 23, 1961, in El Paso, Texas, to Jamee Prioleau and Willie Brooks. On December 3, 2023, Mark Willie Brooks left this world and  peacefully passed away into his new world.

Mark graduated high school from St. Andrews Parish High School and entered the United States Army, where he would honorably serve for twenty-two years and nine months and attain the rank  of Sergeant First Class.

During Mark’s Army service, he spent the majority of his career being stationed at Fort Bragg, NC for sixteen years as an Airborne Medic and NCOIC of Clark Clinic. He was also stationed in  Vicenza, Italy, and served in the Columbia SC Recruiting Battalion as a recruiter. He received several medals and badges, such as the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal,  Joint Service Achievement Medal (2nd Award), Army Achievement Medal (12th Award), Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd Medal), South West Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism (3rd Award), Overseas Service Ribbon, Multinational Force and Observers Medal, Expert Field Medical Badge, Driver and  Mechanic Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and USA Recruiter Badge. Mark also participated in deployments to Egypt, Panama, South West Asia, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi  Freedom.

On December 14, 1986, also at Fort Bragg, Mark met Jacqueline “Gale” and married her eight months later on August 22, 1987. They would go on to spend thirty-six wonderful years together. If  you were in their home, you could hear Mark call Gale’s name at least fifty times in one day. Once Gale would respond and start talking to him (which she loves to do), you could hear him say to  her, “Gale can you stop talking for five minutes.” They loved traveling together and going out to eat at different restaurants. Gale was Mark’s rock, which he leaned on and depended on. Mark was Gale’s “Bookie Bear.” Gale was truly made for Mark, and Mark was truly made for Gale.

Mark was preceded in death by his father, Willie Brooks.
Along with his wife Gale, Mark leaves behind his mother, Jamee Prioleau; brother, Cornell Brooks (Janice); sister, Ronda McNeal (Bartley); his aunts, Delores Brooks McDow, MaryAnn Brooks  Bolds, Albertha Brooks Goins, Angela Prioleau, and Della Prioleau; his uncles, Johnny E. Goins and James Prioleau; a goddaughter, Elsha Cole; a godson, Trevor McNeal; honorary godchildren,  Kapri Glover, Neddeshia Davis, and Antwon Holmes; and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews which Mark loved, adored, wanted the very best for and would do anything  for them!

Mark will always be remembered as a small-framed man with the biggest heart, and that same small-framed man talked more junk than anyone, but we all loved it. He gave us a lot of laughter  and enjoyed making us happy and laughing. He will surely be missed by us all. 

Please keep the family and friends of SFC Mark Willie Brooks in your thoughts and prayers. 

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Southern Pines, North Carolina.