Advance April 11, 1937 - January 8, 2016 Jo Ann Buff Brooks, passed peacefully in her home on January 8, 2016 in Advance, NC at the age of 78. Mrs. Brooks is survived by: her loving husband, Louie Barnwell Brooks Jr.; her son, Louie Barnwell Brooks III "Barney" of Mocksville, NC; her daughter Kara Susan Brooks Freeman "Suzy"; son-in-law, Brian William Freeman of Cape Coral, FL; her sister, Frances Buff Caudle of Mildland, NC. Mrs. Brooks has 5 grandchildren: Jennifer Bankston, Troy Brooks, Trent Brooks, Joshua Crickard and Jac Crickard. She also has 2 great-grandchildren, Brantley and Brianna Brooks. Mrs. Brooks was born on April 11, 1937 in Lincolnton, NC to Lee Roy and Cara Cagle Buff. She graduated from Mrytle Beach High School and attended Kings Business College in Charlotte, NC. She married Louie Barnwell Brooks Jr., her high school sweetheart. After moving to the Winston-Salem area, she began working for Wilson Covington Construction as secretary and manager of Reynolda Manor Shopping Center (where she worked for Jack Covington for 37 years). Mrs. Brooks and her husband enjoyed their retirement as they traveled the world. She and Mr. Brooks loved cruises and were usually off on a new adventure several times a year. She also enjoyed gardening in her yard, growing beautiful flowers, and painting. A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 PM Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel by Rev. Jerry Webb. The family will receive friends following the service. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Mrs. Brooks' life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com. "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17). "