Mr. Stoney Gene Holbrook

Stoney Gene Holbrook of Preston, Georgia, passed away May 20, 2025 of natural causes. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 23, at Preston City Cemetery with the Rev. Raymond Smith officiating. The family will receive friends and extended family following services at the cemetery. Born June 9, 1939 to parents Wiley Burl Holbrook and Ruby Marietta Kennedy Holbrook in Doyle, Georgia, he was given the name Stoney — and it proved to be more fitting than they could have known at the time. One of 11 children, Stoney truly lived up to his name. As a faithful husband to Edith, a devoted father and a hard-working provider, Stoney was solid as a rock — and the basic principles that defined the way he approached life were permanently carved in stone. Never faltering. Never wavering. Through the very end of his days. In his younger days, he cherished the roar of his yellow No. 20 and blue No. 5 race cars. Those who traded paint with Stoney on dirt tracks across Georgia and Alabama may have remembered him a little differently than others — less the quiet Southern gentleman and more the stoic-faced driver relentlessly chasing them down like a man on a mission. And long after his racing days were through, the sounds of televised Nascar races provided the soundtrack to many a Sunday afternoon at their Preston home — often as Stoney offered the drivers “helpful” suggestions from his living room chair. Yet, he also savored the quiet moments in life — fishing on a lake or creek bank; cooking up his legendary barbecue sauce and smoking a delicious Boston butt; camping in the woods; or toiling away on home repairs and improvements. Sometimes those projects were necessary. Other times he invented problems to fix because he loved working with his hands — and he loved the satisfaction of a job well-done. He kept tackling projects around his house — and at others’ homes — long after he retired from Cooper Lighting, where he worked extended days as a dependable mechanic and machinist from 1984 until his 2002 retirement. Prior to Cooper Lighting, he worked as a mechanic at Sullivan Lumber. When he retired, many co-workers felt that they had lost their rock — though he could be found just a short walk down the street if they ever needed him. What his stony exterior hid, though, was a secret to many outside the family — a gentle and soft heart. He shared that with Edith, who was his own rock in good times and bad. Through the years, he only realized further how lucky he was to have found such a loving and devoted wife, a woman whose gifts for reason and patience calmed him when he needed it most. Stoney was devoted to Edith through it all, perhaps even more so at the very end. In recent years, caring for Edith became his primary focus. And his final wishes were for her continued care and well-being. No greater love did he possess than that for his three girls — Angela, Sheri and Sonja (though his eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren would ultimately give them a whole lot of competition). When they needed him around to celebrate the best of times and when they desperately needed a steady rock to lean upon, Stoney was there. He was always there. Like a rock indeed. He embodied some of the best traits a real Southern man can boast — humility, simplicity, hard work, self-determination, a do-it-himself attitude. He was not much for pretension. He was no fan of materialism or greed. He was perfectly content in that little house on that busy Washington Street curve — truck traffic and all. He avoided drama. He didn’t require your attention. He wasn’t much for latching on to any kind of movements — political, social, religious. He was more the type to take the world as it came, maybe grumble and fuss about it, but then move on and handle his business with his trademark quiet responsibility. Because he lived simply, he was able to retire at a young enough age to enjoy life with Edith for many years more. He lived the rest of his life on his terms. He splurged on a few things, but those modest things — such as a quaint getaway on Lake Eufaula — were tremendously important to him. It may have been his retreat from the real world, but he was most happy when he was able to share that with his family and provide them with a retreat, as well. For years, it was almost a second home. In terms of dollars, he was comfortable and met every requirement as a provider. In terms of being able to live his life on his own terms and being able to be there for his family, he was a very wealthy man. With that kind of wealth, he now leaves a legacy and an example for his family and friends. Right now he’s not looking down as he is remembered by grieving family and friends … and likely grumbling, shaking his head and wishing everyone would quit making such a fuss. But underneath that stony, like-a-rock exterior, his soft heart is no doubt melting with love … though he’d never admit it, of course. He is survived by his wife, Edith French Holbrook; daughters Angela Aeger of Preston, Ga., Sheri Ariail (Daniel) of Americus, Ga., and Sonja Johnson of Columbus, Ga.; siblings Linda Norris (Kenny) of Leesburg, Ga., Geraldine Moncus (Gordon) of Phenix City, Ala., Faye Smith (Charlie) of Americus, Ga. and Jack Holbrook (Diane) of Preston, Ga.; grandchildren Cody Aeger (Carson), Ciara James (Brent), Zachary James (Christina), Saylor Johnson, Allee McClure (Colby), Chase McClure, Hannah Tucker (Josh), and Nick Ariail (Mindy); and great-grandchildren Gage, Ashton, Sammy, Kennedy, Raya, Jackson, Selah, and Leti. He was preceded in death by his parents Burl and Ruby and by siblings Dorothy Johnson, Dorris Watford, Elizabeth Johnson, Wiley Holbrook, Mildred Otto, and Glenn Holbrook. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made to the Georgia Sheriffs Boys Ranch or Gentiva Hospice. To sign the online guest book and share your condolences with the family, please visit aldridgefuneralservices.com. Aldridge Funeral & Cremation Services is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Stoney Gene Holbrook

June 9, 1939 - May 20, 2025