Mrs. Deta Brenda Yvonne Crooks

Mrs. Deta Brenda Yvonne Crooks, age 89, of Ocoee, Florida passed away on Saturday, February 26, 2022. Deta was born October 10, 1932 in Mountainside District, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica to the late Mrs. Lucille Clarke Pearce and Mr. Oscar Ben Pearce.

Deta was trained as an educator at Mico Teacher’s College. She was an amazing teacher for most of her working life and shared her knowledge with students at Maverley Primary and Infant school and Harbour View Primary School in Kingston Jamaica.

Throughout her life, Deta was known to treasure the memories of her teaching experiences. She remembered names of students she taught at Harbour View Primary School, even 50 years later.

Deta also emigrated to the US in the 1970s and it was there she served as a Teaching Assistant at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Manhattan, New York. Deta later decided to pursue employment in the banking industry. It was at Republic National Bank in Manhattan that she worked until retirement.

Upon coming to Florida, she continued her education and pursued a certification in the field of healthcare and helped many clients as a Home Health Aide.

Deta became a devout member of the Grace Bible Church of Central Florida. Deta loved spending time with her family and and enjoyed preparing meals for them in the kitchen. She also enjoyed the fellowship of her neighbors.

Deta is survived by her son Ray Crooks (Marilyn); and her daughter Michelle Lasure (Richard); her sister Ena Pearce; her grandson Robert John Crooks and her grandson Christopher Lloyd Crooks, her cousins, Laurice Brown and Mernel Acevedo ; her nieces Judy Annmarie Wright, Jacqueline Pearce-Berry (Brian), Bridgette Haughton, Lizanne Smith, Ari’el Smith, Veda Gunter, and Ingrid Pearce, Brenda Ladee; her nephews, Orgil Pearce, Howard Pearce, Anthony Pearce, and Verol Pearce.

Deta was preceded in death by her son Michael Crooks; her father Oscar Ben Pearce, her mother Lucille Clarke Pearce; and her brother Roy Fitzgerald Pearce.

A visitation for Deta will be held Saturday, March 5, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Grace Bible Church of Central Florida, 801 Dorscher Road, Orlando, FL 32818, followed by a funeral service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Deta's memory may be made to Grace Bible Church for the purpose of its 2022 missions program, 801 Dorscher Road, Orlando, Fl 32818, https://gbccf.org/get-involved/missions-outreach.