W.T. Shumake & Daughters

May 16, 1950 - February 21, 2026

David Arthur Brooks, Sr, 75, of Louisville transitioned on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

Visitation 10-12 Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Community Missionary Baptist Church 4909 E. Indian Trail. Funeral to follow at 12 noon. Burial 12:30pm Monday, March 2, 2026 at Kentucky Veteran Cemetery in Radcliff, Kentucky.

David Arthur Brooks, Sr. was born on May 16, 1950 in Springfield, Tennessee to the union of Margretta Jernigan and Robert Brooks. He was their only child. He was later adopted by John Buntin in 1952, and became a big brother to Stanley, Marjorie, Homer and Lu-Vern.

David accepted Christ at an early age at Friendship Baptist Church. After the family moved to the Newburg neighborhood, he joined Community Missionary Baptist Church. He was very active as a youth in church. You would see him singing in the youth choir, being a youth usher, attending Sunday School on a regular basis, and an active participant in Vacation Bible School.

He was a product of the Jefferson County Public Schools, attending school from the elementary grades to high school, and becoming a graduate from Thomas Jefferson High School. David was very active in school. He participated in the choir, played the trumpet in the band, acted in the Senior Play, and played football, which was his pride and joy. David pursued further education after high school, and attended Morehead State University, for two years, before being drafted into the United States Army.
About six months after completing the Army Boot Camp, David's tour of duty was to Vietnam, during the time the Vietnam War was going on. He spent twelve to eighteen months in Vietnam defending his country. His only moment of peace during this time, was when he received the sports newspaper clippings from the local newspaper.

Upon returning home from the military, David and his father began going fishing every weekend for relaxation. There was a strong competition between him and his father to see who could catch the most fish. The loser of that competition would have to clean the fish. Unfortunately, David would often be the one to clean the fish, in other words, he was the loser quite often.
Shortly after returning from overseas, David married his high school sweetheart, Jackie Gray, and to this union they had one son, David Brooks, Jr.

After David, Jr. graduated from high school, the marriage was dissolved.
David, Sr. was employed at Central State Hospital, where he met his current wife, Bernice. They dated for at least a year before they were joined in Holy Matrimony in June 1992.

David was a very caring, understanding, loving, patient, and kind man, who loved his family more than anything. He would make you think that he didn't care, but out of the blue, he would come to your rescue. He was an awesome father and stepfather. He enjoyed taking long car drives, traveling the roads that took you everywhere.

Indiana University (IU) was David's favorite team, and he was the biggest fan of the basketball team, especially during the Bobby Knight era. According to him, if IU lost a game, it was because IU didn’t want the other team to feel bad and look as though they couldn't play.

Sadly, and with heavy hearts, David Arthur Brooks, Sr., departed on Saturday, February 21, 2026. He leaves to cherish his memories, his wife, Bernice; son, David, Jr. (Krista), eleven step children; four grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; sisters, Evie Norfleet, Marjorie Buntin, Lu-Vern Downey; brother, Stanley Buntin; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

David was preceded in death by his father, John Buntin; mother, Margretta Buntin; and brother, Homer Buntin, Sr.