Ward Four Alderman Don Estes died Monday following a briefillness.

Estes, 65, had been diagnosed with cancer in the spring. He hadshown some signs of recovery until an aggressive form of thedisease returned recently.

Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Churchwith burial in Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation is 5-8 p.m.Tuesday at Brookhaven Funeral Home and 9:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday atthe church.

The Rev. Tom Hollowell said Estes’ death is a big loss to thecommunity.

“He had a tremendously strong faith,” Hollowell said. “Hiscommitment to God was par excellence, and he loved his fellowman.”

In July, Estes took office as Ward Four alderman, succeeding BobMassengill who had been elected mayor earlier. Massengill saidEstes was someone who stood for what is right and always had hispriorities in the right place.

“We knew he was going to be fair in his voting and in hisoutlook,” Massengill said of Estes’ time on the board. “He was afine man.”

Massengill, the board of aldermen and members of the KiwanisClub have been named honorary pallbearers. Pallbearers are membersof the Lost and Found Sunday school class.

Massengill said city offices will be closed Wednesday from 10:45a.m. until after service time in honor of Estes.

A prep All-American, Estes played tackle and lettered five yearswhile playing football at Brookhaven High School. He was also amember of the state championship track team while in highschool.

Highly recruited by several Southeastern Conference schools,Estes went on to play at Louisiana State University in the late1950s and was part of the 1961 SEC championship team.Professionally, Estes played for the St. Louis Cardinals and theSan Diego Chargers and also in the Canadian Football League.

In 1971, Estes returned to Brookhaven and established EstesGlass Inc. with his wife, Shirley. He managed the business until1998.

Estes was active in community activities.

Estes was a former president of the Brookhaven-Lincoln CountyChamber of Commerce, a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club andFellowship of Christian Athletes and had served on the board of theNational Glass Association. He also served in a variety ofcapacities at First United Methodist Church.