Marie Helmly Brooks

September 19, 1951 - December 10, 2021

Marie Helmly Brooks passed away peacefully on December 10th, 2021 after a battle with Breast Cancer. Her love for life, creativity, and adventure will be missed. She used art and her faith in God to help guide her through life. She got joy out of helping others and learning something new daily. Marie was born in Savannah, GA on September 19th, 1951 and grew up in Bluffton, SC. She learned to appreciate the value of hard work and creativity at a young age while growing up on the farm with her 3 siblings. She graduated from Bluffton High (’69) and went on to attend Winthrop College. After moving back to Savannah, she married Robert H Brooks, Jr and moved to Atlanta. The coupled settled in Knoxville, TN and had 3 children. Marie was involved in multiple groups/organizations: Red Cross Home Nursing (Knoxville); Brickey Elementary PTA, Newsletter, and Computer Mom (Knoxville); Blythe Elementary Newsletter Editor and Carnival Chair (Greenville, SC); Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Choir Member, Elder, and Presbyterian Women’s Group (Greenville); 5 Forks Baptist (Simpsonville) and Cornerstone Baptist Church (Bluffton) Choir Member; Round Towners Group Leader at Cornerstone Church. She was a Substitute Teacher while her children were young. She also worked in Adult Education, in retail at various grocery stores, in Sales and as an Independent Contractor, before retiring as a Pharmacy Tech at CVS in Hilton Head, SC. Marie is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Callaway Helmly, Jr and Eleanor Edwards Helmly. She is survived by her 3 siblings, Thomas Callaway Helmly, III (Angela), Ruth Helmly Watson (Jim), and Jane Helmly Burns (Joe); 3 children, Margaret Hill (Patrick), Amanda Brooks (Marsha), and Bobby Brooks (Dave); 6 grandchildren (who she was their beloved Gi-Gi), Ashley Tomeo, Michayla Brooks, Chase Biermann, Lily Hill, Cora Hill, and Vaughn Hill; and several nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held in Okatie, SC in January. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, Charlotte Region.