Mr. Herbert Ray Middlebrooks

Herbert Ray Middlebrooks, Sr., 86, of Trenton, Georgia, finished his race on Sunday, June 12, 2022, at his home, while surrounded by his family.

A longtime resident of Dade County, Herbert was born on July 5, 1935, to Vernon W. & Esther Pell Middlebrooks in Fort Payne, Alabama. When he was a child, his parents moved to Lookout Mountain, near the Chattanooga area, where Herbert would spend the majority of his childhood and teen years.

In 1956, Herbert married the love of his life – Helon Justus; and to this union was born five children Monica, Herbert Jr. “Herbie”, Chris, Maronica, and Daniel. He was a loving father who worked hard to provide for his family and always kept them in church and surrounded by people who would be positive influences in their lives. A friendly man with a huge smile, Herbert was blessed with the gift of gab and never met a stranger. He was a natural salesman with an entrepreneurial spirit and worked in various business ventures throughout his life and continued to dabble in some type of sales well past retirement. If he found a product that he believed in, he wanted you to benefit from it as well.

At the age of 58 years old, Herbert, who had spent his life attending church with his family and doing everything he could to help people in every possible way, finally… received the baptism of the Holy Ghost on one Sunday morning at the Griffin Free Holiness Church on Lookout Mountain, where he and Helon were members. For the remainder of his life, Herbert was a faithful and hardworking Child of God. Always the salesman, Herbert, with Helon at his side, traveled thousands of miles each year going from church to church, laboring in altar calls and sharing his inspiring testimony of salvation – all in hopes of “selling” someone else on the thought that if God would do it for him, He would do it for them as well. And his labors were not in vain, for through the years, it would be impossible to number the lives he and Helon touched in their travels.

Herbert loved going to church and loved traveling the United States; but he was never happier, than when he was surrounded by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren. He was very proud of them and their accomplishments in life, and was always careful to credit God with any success by saying, “God has blessed us!” The revered patriarch of a very large family, he and Helon raised their children in a loving home and all through the years, worked hard to keep their family close to one another. The results – a large clan of fun, exciting, and caring people… a home where all are welcome… the house that love built.

On Sunday, June 12 – twenty-eight years to the day after having made ready for his journey, Herbert stepped into eternity without fear, dread, or regret. Surrounded by those whom he loved most on Earth, he was lovingly surrendered to the One whom he loved above all; and while our lives will never be the same without him here, we know that Heaven will never be the same with him there. And for that, we rejoice.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Ester Middlebrooks and brother, Roy Middlebrooks.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of sixty-six years, Helon Middlebrooks; children Monica (Tim) Cardin, Murfreesboro, TN., Herbert (Sheila) Middlebrooks, Jr., Murfreesboro, TN., Chris (Lora) Middlebrooks, Hazel Green, AL., Maronica (Kevin) Blackmon, Davenport, FL., Daniel (Sonya) Middlebrooks, Trenton, GA.; twelve grandchildren, Brandy Cardin, LeAnne (Michael) Bridges, Haley (Bradley) Pritchett, Kyle (Amy) Middlebrooks, Scott (Tyree) Middlebrooks, Beth (Cody) Owens, Andrew Middlebrooks, Kelsey Le’ Blackmon, Avery (Lynzie) Blackmon, Brandon (Katie) Middlebrooks, Emma Middlebrooks, Elisabeth Middlebrooks; nineteen great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; honorary Middlebrooks Tina Haney; brothers Troy (JoAnn) Middlebrooks; Terry (Barbara) Middlebrooks; nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 1:00 PM ET at the Trenton Chapel of Moore Funeral Home with Brother Wayne Guffey and Brother Warren Langley officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Lawn Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends Friday, June 17, 2022 from 11:00 AM ~ 8:00 PM ET; Saturday 11:00 AM ~ 1:00 PM ET.

Visit www.MooreFHS.com to share expressions of sympathy and view his memorial tribute.

The service will be livestreamed at www.discoverdade.com/moorestream .

Arrangements by Moore Funeral Home, Trenton, GA.