Sarah E. Brooks

to Charlotte, NC . where her father took a position as professor of chemistry at Johnson C. Smith

University. Aunt Betty – as she was affectionately known – then graduated from Palmer Memorial

Institute (high school) in Sedalia, NC. and in 1951 earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Talladega

College, Talladega, Alabama and her master’s degree from Howard University. She later received a

Fulbright scholarship studying and teaching in Paris France for many years and earning her doctorate in

French Literature.

Eventually, Betty returned to the U.S . Teaching at Texas A&M then moving to Takoma Park Maryland

near her sister Roberta and niece Moneta (Marzette) where she taught English as a second language in

the Montgomery county school system until her retirement.

Betty was an intensely independent person getting around town at all hours of the day and night via

bus. She loved a good meal – never gaining a pound. She danced at social gatherings with a humorous

“professorial” disposition. Betty was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

She leaves to mourn, her sister Roberta Brooks Shearin of Takoma Park, Md, her niece Moneta Marzette

Shearin Howland who cared for her needs until the very end, nephew William G. Shearin, Jr. (Ernestine)

of Rocky Mount, NC, nieces Dr. Deneta Howland Sells (Bryan) of Atlanta, Christina Howland of Maryland,

Juanita Howland Greene (Richard) of East Orange NJ and nephew Dennis Howland, II (Tasha) of Bowie

Md, and a host of other friends and family.