Ervin Brooks

Ervin P. Brooks, 97, of Salem, Virginia, passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early morning of June 19, 2026.

The son of Nellie and Ervin P. Brooks, Sr., he was born in Caroline County, Virginia, on August 31, 1928. He spent his early years on the family farm in Caroline County, moving to Martinsville, Virginia, as a teenager. In school there, he met his lifelong friend and future business partner, I. Ray Byrd. After graduating from Martinsville High School, Ervin enlisted in the United States Army, serving for two years at Fort Belvoir. In the fall of 1947, Ervin enrolled in the Medical College of Virginia, graduating in 1951, with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. Upon graduation, he worked for a year as a drug inspector for the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. This serendipitous assignment brought him occasionally to Salem where he met and formed a friendship with C.E. (Ted) Webber, owner of Webber's Pharmacy on Main Street. Feeling a profound draw to the area, Ervin and his new wife, Martha (Mouse), decided to settle in Salem where he began working alongside Webber as a pharmacist. At Ervin's urging, his dear friend and MCV classmate, Ray Byrd, also settled in Salem. In 1959, Ervin and Ray bought Webber's Pharmacy, changing the name to Brooks-Byrd Pharmacy. For over three decades, they filled people's prescriptions and served their iconic orangeades made with hand-squeezed oranges and hand-shaved ice. Outside of practicing pharmacy, Ervin enjoyed sailing the Chesapeake Bay with a special group of friends, building three sailboats in his basement, and spending time at Smith Mountain Lake, where he loved to water ski and sip a good gin and tonic. During retirement, he also took pleasure in mowing lawns, chopping and delivering firewood, and building numerous fences and decks for family and friends.

On November 22, 1950, before moving to Salem, Ervin married Martha (Mouse) Spicer. Together, they had three children, all of whom survive him: Ervin P. Brooks III, Charles Cameron Brooks, and Nell Suzanne Rose. As Trey, Cameron, and Suzanne grew up, Ervin passed along his exemplary work ethic, seeing to it that each child spend time working at the drugstore. Ervin's retirement years saw his second marriage to Ollie Stowe on July 1, 1993. They had nearly 30 joy-filled years of special adventures and time spent with friends and family, until her death in 2023.

Ervin will be dearly missed by all who were lucky enough to know him. He was a man of his word, with a firm handshake and a quick wit.

In addition to his parents, Ervin was preceded in death by wives, Martha and Ollie; his sister, Ileta Cleek; his brother, David Brooks; and his beloved Aunt Bessie and Uncle John.

Along with his children, Trey (Debbi), Cameron (Ann), and Suzanne (David), Ervin is survived by his stepdaughters, Cindy Morrow and Julia Fuller (Mike); grandchildren, Shannon Willey (Karl), Mary Baldwin (Blake), John Brooks, Allison Brooks (Chris), Caroline Pfeifer (Carson), Mary Cameron Laub (Steven), Lenore Trout, Jevon Rose (Heather), Elizabeth Faris (Andy), Jake Morrow (Mary Claire), and Rebekah, Grant, and Hannah Fuller; and great-grandchildren, Lorelai Brooks, George Willey, Paisley Baldwin, Nellie Pfeifer, Noah, Abbie, and Jonah Trout, Brooks Faris, and George Morrow.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in the Sherwood Memorial Park Abbey located at 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike in Salem, Virginia.

The family would like to extend deep gratitude to caregivers Elaine Tolliver and Sissy Winters, each of whom gave countless hours of their undivided attention to Ervin. He loved you both. Sincere gratitude also goes to Lynn Davis (Ervin's weekend caregiver), Friendship Salem Terrace, Good Samaritan Hospice, and Affinity Care Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made to the Salem Rescue Squad or a charity of choice. Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.