Ruth Ella Brooks

Mrs. Ruth Ella Crawford Brooks was born to Alvin (Handy) and Mariah Crawford on April 8, 1921. Ruth is the third of five children. She accepted our Lord and Savior upon birth and was christened at Ninevah Baptist (Longstreet) Church. Many ministers have come and gone during her membership Reverend Gray, Reverend Barbie, Reverend Holmes, Reverend Williams to name a few. She was the oldest surviving trustee of five at Ninevah.  On April 17, 1945, she entered into Holy Matrimony to Mr. Freddie Brooks Sr. to this union seven children were born.  Ruth Ella went to the Richards School in Richards Texas.  She loved the sport of Basketball and played as a forward. They never lost a game. After graduation Ruth Ella went on to receive a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Education from Prairie View A & M University in August of 1950. She received her Master’s degree in Education in May of 1958 from Texas Southern Univerisity.  Ruth Ella returned to Richards where she taught Home Economics, 3rd and 4th grade and P.E. (coaching the girls Basketball team).  During the 1960’s when Integration came she left Richards and went to work for North Forest Independent School District. She would then go on to Shadydale Elementary until retirement. Ruth Ella always believed in children and the elderly. So she started and owned several daycare centers (Children Rainbow and Learning Star Academy. Her love for teaching and children had no boundaries. Her words were “I will never fail a child, I will whip one but never fail one. If a child fails, I failed, because if I give a child all I know a child will never fail”. “My knowledge is endless and true”, spoken by her at the age of 95 as she was teaching her great-grandson math. So many children passed her way and she never met one which could not learn or one she could not teach or help. Mrs. Brooks, Mama, Big Mama, Mr. Brooks’s wife; so many names for one woman no words can ever describe her.  On January 22, 2019, God’s angel came. Mama was still teaching in her last moments with her “Baby Boy” Keith. She spoke to him and said “I love you all”; Keith said “we love you, too, mama”. She smiled and closed her eyes.  She always said “love one another and stay together, because I know a “man”! Waiting anxiously in Heaven to reunite with her is my husband Mr. Freddie Brooks Sr., her mother and father Mariah and Alvin (Handy) Crawford, her brothers Ishman Crawford and Ellis Crawford, her sisters Juanita Spencer and Ethel Mae Crawford. She leaves a lifetime of love and memories plus a legacy of Christian faith. She leaves behind four sons and three daughters Freddie Brooks Jr. (Frankie), Frank Brooks (Geredine), Donald Brooks (Sharon), Garrett Keith Brooks, Marion E. Ware, Carolyn E. Brooks, and Carla P. Brooks. An abundance of grandchildren Trent, James, Ursula, Ella Goudeau, Denise, Franchelle, Kevin, Christy, Ishman (Peggy), Donald, Christopher(Katina), Clarantha, Shawn, Asa, Demitrus, Ruth, Francesca, Carla(Dell). Her joy everyday her great grandchildren Kamrun, Khymia(whom she called “My Princess”), Mariah, Kaylah, Theodore, Tiana,  Island, Freddie, Jonathan, Marell, Destiny, Dashawn, Shaiell, Elijah, Faith, Marshell, Elishama, Euradell, Asher, Justice, Hope, David Jr., Demitrus Wayne Jr., Jardun, Tyreece, Brandon, Brachel, Layla, and Joshua. Her only great great grandson Jonah Clay; and children she called her own Ella Reese and Cleo Thurman (Big Cat).