Services for Brooks Jackson “Jack” Thomas, a longtime residentof Hazlehurst, were 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 25, at 10 a.m. at FirstPresbyterian Church of Hazlehurst. A second service will be held at4 p.m. on Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church of Linden, Ala.,with burial at Half Acre Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Servicesin Hazlehurst is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Thomas, 61, died July 21, 2007. A native of Half Acre, Ala.,he was born on July 14, 1946, to William Gray Thomas and ElizabethRobbins Thomas.

He was an agent for State Farm Insurance for 27 years. He was anall-conference and all-state lineman for the Linden Red Devilsfootball team. He played football at Mississippi State University,where he lettered three years, was a member of the south squad inthe Blue-Gray Classic, and Most Valuable Player. All of MarengoCounty Alabama became St. Louis Cardinal fans when Jack was draftedto play in the National Football League in 1969. He spent a yearcoaching at Apopka High School in Orlando, Fla., and at CopiahAcademy for seven, where he was named Coach of the Year in 1979 bythe Mississippi Private School Association. He was very active inthe Hazlehurst community. He was a member of the First PresbyterianChurch, where he was an elder. He had served as Lion’s Clubpresident and was a Gideon. He will be remembered as a loyalfriend, and a loving father and husband.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Survivors are his wife, Melanie Campbell Thomas; his sons, JasonThomas, of Wesson, Granville Engle, of New York City, and MichaelEngle, of Vicksburg; his daughters, Stefanie Moore and husbandKris, of Taylorsville, Katherine Thomas, of Starkville, BrookeThomas, of Taylorsville, and Campbell Engle, of Washington, D.C.;his sisters, Jane Beck of Sweetwater, Ala., Anne Schroeder andhusband Jerry, and Sarah Drinkard and husband Reid, all of Linden;and his brother William Thomas and wife Anne, of Myrtlewood,Ala.

Pallbearers are Tommy Bufkin, Wayne Garrett, Tommy Jones, Dr.Jim Hall, Dr. John Long, Kent Newman, Buddy Prestridge and ChipSanders.

Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Ricky Akin, Eustace Conway, RonnieGray, Neil King, Max Phillips, Shag Pyron, Mel Stegall, Dr. CharlesHall, Dr. Jerry Long, Jackie Lindsey and the State Farm Family.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church inHazlehurst, P.O. 769, Hazlehurst, MS 39083.