Obituary from The Gleaner Sep. 22, 2020:
ObituaryReferences:
Courier & Press: Civil rights leader The Rev. Anthony Brooks Sr. dies at 85
Rev. Dr. Anthony M. Brooks Sr.
Obituary from The Gleaner Sep. 22, 2020:
ObituaryReferences:
Courier & Press: Civil rights leader The Rev. Anthony Brooks Sr. dies at 85
HENDERSON – Anthony Brooks has acquired a number of titles in his 47 years. He’s earned a doctorate of philosophy degree, he’s an ordained minister, and he’s a certified principal. And now he’s been named Henderson’s Outstanding Black Citizen.
Most of his friends call him “Tony,” he said. But if a title is needed at all it will generally be doctor rather than reverend.” The preference is deliberate, Brooks said.
I believe it gives people a sense of pride with saying Dr. Brooks. And I hope that pride motives kids to rise to the highest point that they can,” said the assistant principal of Evansville’s Reitz High School.
Brooks doesn’t consider himself a superor to his students congregation or his community, but he does strive to become a role model.
It’s unfortunate that for a lot of black kids, the only successful people they see are white people. In Henderson, all the medical people are white or foreign. And there are no black lawyers.
“If kids were ever to seek to move up, they wouldn’t even know they could do it,” he said.
Brooks was voted the Outstanding Black Citizen by the Ebony Sisters, a local civic organization. The choice was a surprise to Brooks, mainly because he lives today in Evansville. But, Stephanie Griffin, president of the Ebony Sisters, said the only requiremant for the award is that the person be a citizen of the United States.
Ms. Griffin also said Brooks was chosen as the third recipient of the award because he is an inspiration, “always there when someone needs him and someone who didn’t forget where he came from.”
“Where he came from” was what Brooks calls a pocket of poverty on South Ingram Street, also known in the late 1940’s as “Squirrel Town.” He was one of six children, the son of a custodian and grew up in a house with no indoor plumbing and no electricity.
I’ve been in welfare lines and I’ve been in commodity lines.” he said.
Shortly after his 1952 graduation from Douglass High School, Brooks enrolled in the St. Louis Baptist College. He studied for the ministry for a year, but dropped out because of financial difficulties.
He found work at the newly opened Chrysler Corporation in St. Louis and was hired as a custodian.
Twelve years later, Brooks was an engineering planning man, a timekeeper, and a traffic person.
In 1953, while raising a family of four, he enrolled in the University of Evansville to study elementary education. He also made a bid, though unsuccessfully, for the Henderson City Commission.
Those were his “rebel days.” he said of the days of desegregation and of his tenure as president of the Henderson National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
“I was trying to change society, to open it up and stow others in the black community that you can get involved and can intelligently discuss the issues.” he said. Though he lost his campaign, he believes he helped pave the way for others to win. He mentions, for one, Thelma Johnson, herself a former Outstanding Black Citizen and now president of Henderson County School Board. In the next 11 years, Brooks continued his education. Something he stresses often as a means of acquiring tools that can move society. In 1977, he eared a masters degree from the University of Evansville. Within a year, he had a doctorate degree from Indiana University in Bloomington.
Throughout his student days, and for 10 years, Brooks was pastor of both the Seventh Street Baptist Church in Henderson and the Dove Chapel Baptist Church in Evansville. Today, he heads only the Henderson church.
The church, he said, has always been the motivating force in his life and he works now to make it a force in the lives of his congregation.
“The black pulpit has always been focused on free speech. If it weren’t, I think I’d quit. As a minister, I deal with the whole man’s life, not just heaven. I don’t even talk about heaven very much. “I try to advocate a shouldering of responsibly and a caring and compassion for each other. I think the church should facilitate a kind of environment that make life livable for other people,” he said. The a cappella sounds of Brooks Wednesday night church choir practice invades his small office. The soft-spoken man strains his voice, “That’s the black gospel church for you,” he said. He smiles when asked if he considers himself a success. “I don’t know,” he said, “They usually don’t decide that until after you’re dead.”
Evansville, IN – Rev. Dr. Anthony Marquis Brooks, Sr. began his remarkable life’s journey on October 20,1934 in Henderson, KY. Surrounded by his family, the Master called him home on Sunday, September 20, 2020 with the words we all long to hear one day, “Servant, well done.”
Rev. Dr. Brooks served as the pastor of three churches during his esteemed ministerial career. He served at Webster Baptist Street in Sebree, KY from 1956 to 1958. He then served at Dove Chapel Baptist Church in Evansville, IN from 1958 to 1978. His third and final call to pastor came from the Seventh Street Baptist Church in Henderson, KY where he served from 1967 until his passing. His love for the Seventh Street church family was unmatched, and his congregation loved him and First Lady Alice Brooks deeply.
In addition to serving in his church, he also was actively involved in the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. and was a lecturer for the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky. He served as a ‘father in the ministry’ to numerous ministers whose ministries are active across the country today.
Rev. Dr. Brooks lived his faith in both his private and public lives. His first commitment was to God followed closely by his commitment to his family. He met his future wife and lifetime love, Alice Rebecca West, when her father became the pastor of Seventh Street. After a courtship of two years, the two were married in 1956. To this union of love, four children were born. Along with serving as pastor, being with his family was the highlight of his life. Alice was not just his wife, but his best friend–spending countless hours together traveling, playing games, and attending the events of their family and church members. Anthony was the living example of a family patriarch, affectionately called ‘Daddy’ by his children, and ‘Papa’ by all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved to tell stories to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and they were always a captive audience, listening to every word. His family was truly the joy of his life.
Education was an important value in Rev. Dr. Brooks’ life, and he expressed this throughout his life to his family and community. He graduated from Douglass High School in Henderson and initially attended Kentucky State University. He ultimately earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Education from the University of Evansville and his Doctorate in Education from Indiana University. While at the University of Evansville, Anthony was a founding member and inaugural Polemarch of the Episilon Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. He was also the first African American student to play on the university’s collegiate tennis team.
After completing his own education, Dr. Brooks shared his belief in the power of getting an education with the students and families he served. He worked as an educator for many decades in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, serving as a teacher in EVSC, a principal at Stanley Hall, Harper, Lincoln, and Christa McAuliffe. He was eventually promoted to be one of the first African Americans to serve in the Administrative Offices of EVSC.
Living out the words of James 2:14-16, Rev. Dr. Brooks served as a lifelong leader in his community, most notably, advocating for the civil rights of the African American community in both Henderson, KY and Evansville, IN. During his life, he served as the president of both the Henderson and Evansville chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as well as the vice president of the Kentucky NAACP state organization during the 1960s. Specifically, his civil rights advocacy in Henderson, led to his arrest multiple times as he led sit-ins at local restaurants, Ferrell Brothers and Ken’s Corner Cafe. During this time, he also marched in protests against segregation with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in both Louisville and Frankfort. Later in his career, he also served on the Evansville Human Rights Commission and the City of Evansville Public Works Board.
Preceding him in death were his beloved wife, Alice; his dear mother, Elsie Brooks; Robert Brooks and Millie Hancock, who shared in raising him; and siblings, Clara Jean Williams, Robert Brooks, Jr. and Larry Brooks.
After a life very well lived, Rev. Dr. Brooks transitioned peacefully on Sunday morning, September 20, 2020. Left to cherish his memory and continue his legacy are his four children, Anthony M. Brooks, Jr. (Pamela), Tijuanna M. Tolliver (Steven), Adrian M. Brooks I (Terry), and Lynel A. Beaty (Timothy, Sr.); eight grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren. His siblings, Rose Ware and Sharron Brooks and his in-laws, Genel Gibbons, Nadine D’Abreu, Shernon (Jodi) West, Helena West, and Katrina Walker; along with a very special niece, Deborah Smith (Dewayne).
Services are 11:00 a.m. Saturday September 26, 2020 at Memorial Baptist Church with visitation from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Rev. Dr. Brooks will lie in state at Seventh Street Baptist Church in Henderson, KY on Thursday September 24, 2020 from 12-7:00 p.m. and again on Friday September 25,2020 from 4-7:00 p.m. Entombment at Fairmont Cemetery Mausoleum. R. Mason Brothers Memorial Chapel is entrusted with arrangements. Leave condolences at www.masonbrothersfs.com. Donations may be made to the Adrian M. Brooks Foundation DBA: Anthony & Alice Brooks Scholarship Fund. A mask is required to attend all services.
Published by The Gleaner from Sep. 22 to Sep. 23, 2020.
