Phyllis BROOKS

BROOKS, Phyllis Of Bedford, MA, died peacefully on February 2, 2024, at age 86. Phyllis was the daughter of the late Thornton and Margaret Brooks of Greensboro, NC. Phyllis was quick-witted, resilient and fun-loving. She lived a life of integrity, moral strength and generosity and will be greatly missed.

After graduating from Grimsley High School as a salutatorian and Hollins College in Virginia, Phyllis moved north to Boston for a lab position at Harvard Medical School. Desiring to work more closely with people, Phyllis pursued her education degree at Boston University and became a special education teacher in Westwood. As a lifelong learner, Phyllis returned to academics to complete her graduate degree in library sciences at Simmons University and a rewarding career as a reference librarian in Hudson ensued. In volunteer work, Phyllis found even more gratification working with the Big Brother Big Sister, the Friends of Cary Library in Lexington and tutoring with English at Large.

Phyllis was a hostess extraordinaire and her joie de vivre palpable. If there was someone to elevate the ordinary, it was Phyllis, with her themed dinner parties and all-night New Year's Eve bridge games. She recently reminisced about her "Peach Bowl" triathlon, where the race's third leg involved eating peach pie. An avid traveler, Phyllis found the world fascinating to explore, and she did. Phyllis was a devoted friend to many, creating space for her community to expand even during her short stay at Carleton-Willard.

Three big threads weaving throughout her life in Boston were enjoying The Boston Symphony Orchestra, cheering on the Boston Red Sox unwaveringly and the community at Trinity Church, Boston. Phyllis led a life of service and devotion, moored by an unshakable faith. She was a long-time member of Trinity Church Boston and, in recent years, St Paul's church in Bedford. Yet, in the end, North Carolina was always home. Phyllis often intoned the familiar phrase "a Tar Heel born, a Tar Heel bred, and when I die,….." And so to North Carolina, she will return.

Phyllis is survived by her sister, Jane Brooks Lybrook; her niece, Sherrill Lybrook Broek and husband, Onne Broek; their children, Oliver and Bella; her nephew, Will Lybrook and wife, Lorie; their children, William, Wyatt and Wesley; the Williams cousins, Margaret Ann, Tom and Jackie; and the Brooks cousins, Jim and Helen (Dale). She was predeceased by her brother-in-law, Douglas P Lybrook; and her nephew, Pen Lybrook. Also dear in her life were the late Nicholas Stephens; his two daughters, Louisa (Ethan Bissett) and Elizabeth (Bryan Cox); and their children, Zachary Bissett, Ella and Charles Cox.

A Memorial Service will be held February 27, 3:00, at St Paul's Episcopal Church, Bedford, MA, followed by a private inurnment at the columbarium of the First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro. Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the United Way of Greensboro, 1500 Yanceyville St., Greensboro, NC 27405, www.unitedwaygso.org to English at Large, 800 West Cummings Park, Ste 5550, Woburn, MA 01801,

www.englishatlarge.org or St Paul's Episcopal Church, Bedford, MA.