Over the past year, the Town of Brookneal has lost several integral members of its community.
On Monday, the same could be said for Dr. Jack Campbell.
Campbell passed away Monday morning, leaving behind his wife and mayor of Brookneal Phyllis Campbell, the couple’s children and grandchildren.
In a phone interview Monday, family friend Meg Tibbs said, “He was a rare breed.”
“You will never see another one like him. He gave it all to his community. He was a team doctor at William Campbell and everyone has a Dr. Jack story they can tell,” Tibbs said. “He gave to his church, his friends and family. He really gave it all. I can’t tell you how much I respected him, not only as a person, but for what he did for this town.”
Tibbs recalled a time when her husband, Alan, was in the hospital. She said Campbell came to visit and brought along a box of chicken.
“He knew I was going to be hungry and he came in and sat down with me and waited for the surgery to end,” Tibbs said. “That’s the kind of person he was and you won’t find, too, many people like that around here anymore. They broke the mold with Jack.”
Brookneal Director of Public Works Mike Crews began working for the town in 1992. “Dr. Campbell had his office on Lusardi Drive. He was the type of physician that you could call anytime, whether at the office or home,” Crews said, commenting on behalf of the Brookneal town manager, staff and office. “He was a joy and a delight to be around. He had love for the Town of Brookneal, the citizens and the children.”
Crews went on to say you could not have found a better person, friend or physician than Dr. Campbell. “He will be greatly missed,” Crews said.
Campbell was born in Forest and was a graduate of E.C. Glass High School. He graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in biology in 1950.
He arrived in Brookneal in 1974.
In a 2005 edition of The Union Star, Campbell said his whole life has been built around athletics. “I spent the first 20 years as a doctor working on the sidelines at William Campbell High School sporting events.
Funeral arrangements had not been released at press time on Monday.