Karen Brookshaw Obituary

Nov 8, 1937 - July 15, 2014 Karen Fuller Brookshaw, widow of Valjean "Gene" Brookshaw Jr., died July 15, 2014 at her home at Brookdale Place in Birmingham, Alabama. The daughter of Bessie Ann McGinnis and Francis Marion Fuller Jr., Karen was born in Carrollton, Georgia on November 8, 1937. She was preceded in death by her brother Dick and her sister Tass. She is survived by her sons Valjean "Chip" Brookshaw III and William Brian Brookshaw, their spouses Bonnie and Jennifer, and grandsons Christopher, Gordon, and Reid. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia State University, and completed a Masters of Arts degree in English from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her career in publishing included positions at Southern Progress and Oxmoor House. She also worked at Highlands School in Birmingham for many years, in many roles. She nursed playground injuries, donned a hard hat during construction of a new library, and always made a wonderful first impression on visitors. Her love of music crossed almost every genre. Chubby Checker, Tom Jones, Willie Nelson, and Susan Boyle were just a few of her favorites. She saw Elvis at the Omni and danced to James Brown from the front row at City Stages. She kept a close eye on politics and politicians, particularly the rascals. She was an avid reader all her life, and most recently found a kindred sense of humor in the writings of David Sedaris. A memorial is scheduled for Saturday August 9 at 2pm in the chapel at Canterbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to a preferred charity.

Published by AL.com (Birmingham) from Jul. 22 to Jul. 23, 2014.
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Memories and Condolences
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How lucky I am to have known her.

Jeffery Fuller

August 13, 2014

Please accept our sympathy in the loss of your mother, Karen Brookshaw. She was such a wonderful member of our Canterbury United Methodist Women's organization. Margie Dento

Margie Denton

August 1, 2014

What a dear woman. She will be missed. I enjoyed sharing mystery novels with her.
Lee n Karen Ohlman

July 26, 2014

Wishing the family peace. I was in a book group with Karen in the 1990s, and she was such fun. Smart and witty, with a deep soul. She was a delight. I'm sorry to see her passing, and know she will be deeply missed.

Annette Thompson

July 25, 2014

We are so sorry for your loss, my heart goes out to you & my prayers are with you and your families. God be with you in your time of need.

Janice Caiola

July 24, 2014

Dear Brookshaw Sons,

We are saddened to hear of your mother's passing. Your parents were our wonderful neighbors for 22 years -- until your mom sold the house and moved. Your dad would always sit on their deck, cigar in hand, and watch my sons shoot the basketball. They were both tickled when our third child, a daughter, was born! My older son enjoyed a wonderful relationship with your father by driving Mr. Brookshaw to the YMCA for his exercise and always to get a hotdog afterward. My younger son's first "job" was emptying the trash and sorting the recyclables at your house, then taking them to the curb. I enjoyed my visits with your mom while she got the house in order and readied herself for the move to the assisted living. I will miss our phone calls, and I will always wait to see if I can still smell your father's cigar. We have wonderful new neighbors now, but the house will always be known as the Brookshaw house. God bless you both! Our family has been blessed by knowing your parents.

Jill Jones Bonatz

July 23, 2014

We are so sorry about the loss of your Mother. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to meet her.

Kari Mayorga & Family

July 23, 2014

My sympathy goes out to the family during your time of grief. May God's loving-kindness comfort you and help you through this difficult time. (Psalm 119:50,76)

July 23, 2014

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