The last wrung of the ladder held by the angels was climbed by Sylvia Alice Hobe Brooks on November 11, 2021. Born to Albert Lawrence Hobe and Sylvia Dorothy Storer Hobe on February 19, 1936 in Wilkinsburg, PA, Sylvia considered herself a Floridian having moved with her parents to Saint Petersburg as a young teenager.
As a child, she worked in the family butcher shop selling groceries. She recounted stories of her beloved brother Albert Hobe who was eleven years older than she, and how she would torment him as a child by sitting on the bathroom counter watching him shave. That brother would marry Lulu (Peggy) Collins and give to Sylvia the sister she had never had.
On December 30, 1963, Sylvia married the love of her life, David Eugene Brooks. As a pastor’s wife, Sylvia served in so many differing capacities including Sunday School teacher, music leader, pianist, youth leader, but mostly as the faithful, loving companion of David. From their union, came three children who had the blessing of amazing, supportive Christian parents: Dorothy Lillian Brooks (wife to “son” Michael Ange), Lawrence Bowen Brooks (husband to “daughter” Triste Brooks), and David Leslie Brooks (husband to “daughter” Kalene Brooks).
One of the many lessons that these children learned from their parents, is that family is deeper than blood. Whether that family is your church family, your lifelong friends, or the clan of Jesse and Jestine Harper, love builds a family.
Sylvia was a highly educated woman having achieved her Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling from Peabody College. But, Sylvia was never proud or boastful instead recalling stories of shucking beans with friends, travels, or sitting around the campfire making music and smores. She spent most of her life in service to others whether cooking delicious meals for her family and friends, working as a school counselor, music teacher, or with the elderly. She continued her service even as her health began to fail as she faithfully wrote to people who were hurting, celebrating special times, or even just to say hello and offer a word of encouragement.
Sylvia had a full and blessed life with her family including three beloved and amazing grandchildren: Trevor Doyle Brooks, Dylan Patrick Brooks and Alana Rae Ange. She treasured her grandchildren, always so proud of their accomplishments, and the wonderful people that they were becoming.
Sylvia was a collector of angels which is very much reflective of her spirit. On her last shopping trip, she bought a small wooden plague from the Dollar Store which read: “Thankful, grateful, blessed”. It is in this spirit, that we bid Sylvia adieu on Friday, November 26, 2021 with a funeral service to be held at Union Hill Baptist Church in Brookneal, Virginia at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Rick Sewell officiating, with a family and friends gathering time to follow. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
If you care to make a donation in honor of Sylvia, we ask that you consider your church, the charity of your choice, or Haven Hospice at 6037 US 90, Lake City, FL 32055 which provided loving care for Sylvia in her last months.
