John "Brinkley" Burks was my great-great-grandfather. He was the son of William Robert Burks, Jr. and Mary "Polly" (Dunston) Burks and grandson of William Robert Burks, Sr. b ca 1743 and Lurena "Lenora" Harris; g-gson of Richard Burks b ca 1713 & Frances "Fannie" Howie / Horsley (Horsley was her step-father's name), .gg-gson of Samuel Burks & Mary Davis & ggg-gson of John Burks & Mary Peartree and Nathaniel Davis. (Mary was a sister of Jefferson Davis of the
Confederacy.) Brinkley Burks married 1. Temperence "Tempy" Evans on Jan. 19, 1831. It is listed in Book 1, oldest book in Covington, Newton Co., Georgia. Brinkley was a large land owner with a big family. Children: Joel W. Burks, *Mastin Milton Burks (my G-GF), William Pulaski Burks, Martha Elizabeth Burks, Temperence Burks, Margaret Burks, Mary Burks, James Brinkley Burks, Frederick Burks, Susan Burks and Jemima Burks. After Tempy's death in June 1873, Brinkley married 2. Sophronia Elizabeth Lawrence Turner, widow of James Turner, on July 21, 1873, in Pike Co. Children: Julia Annie S. Burks Williford (FindAGrave Memorial #40746409), Daniel Dozier Burks, Boycey Adelaide Burks Williford, Minnie L. Burks Harden and Robert Franklin Burks (FindAGrave Memorial #8040333). Brinkley helped organize Old Union Primitive Baptist Church, was a deacon and faithful member from 1835 - 1888. Brinkley never used his first name, John, in any of his business transactions. His siblings were Rebecca Burks, Nathan Burks, Jesse K. Burks, Tillman (he used BurkEs), Wiley Burks, Asbury Burks, Willis Burks, William Gilbert Burks and Elijah H. Burks. Brinkley was the third child. One of Brinkley's nephews changed the spelling of his name from Burks to Burke.

From the Union Springs Herald, Union Springs, Alabama, August 1888:

"Mrs. J. R. Curtis (Note: Susan) of China Grove died on the 3rd inst. Her father, Brinkley Burk, died on the 8th, in his 82nd year." (Note: Cause of his death - Stroke)

It is possible Brinkley died of grief from losing his daughter, Susan Burks Curtis, five days earlier.∼Husband of (1)Temperance "Tempy" Evans and (2) Sophronia Elizabeth Lawrence Turner ...