Gloria Smith Brooks

1933 - 2009

Gloria Smith Brooks, 81, passed away peacefully Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, while surrounded by her family.
Funeral: 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Greenwood Chapel. Entombment: Greenwood Mausoleum.
She was born Gloria Jewel Smith to Ralph Herman Smith and Teresa Sheffield Smith in Washington, D.C., on May 15, 1928. She attended local schools, including Dunbar High School, before matriculating at Howard University in her hometown, where she really came into her own.
She was very active in campus life, being a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and many other campus organizations. Gloria had a very rich experience at Howard and she gained many lifelong friends. A strong testament to this was the fact that she attended her 50th anniversary in the year 2000 and renewed old acquaintances with all of her remaining classmates.
She graduated magna cum laude in 1950 from Howard with a degree in English. During this time, she met a young medical student, Donald Arthur Brooks, who would become the love of her life; their love for one another knew no bounds.
She then attended New York University, where she was granted her master's degree in sociology in 1953. This was her first exposure to New York City and she often spoke fondly of her time there. She had never been exposed to such cultural diversity and different points of view and it left quite an impression on her.
Shortly thereafter, she began a career as a teacher in Montgomery County, Md. Her love affair with the young Dr. Brooks flourished and he was well into his postgraduate training as a surgeon. Shortly, thereafter they were married in 1956 at Rankin Chapel on the grounds of their alma mater, Howard University.
To this happy union, a first-born, Donald "Donnie" Arthur Brooks Jr., was welcomed into the world March 27, 1957. Soon afterwards, the threesome moved to Donald's hometown of Fort Worth, where he joined his brother, Marion "Jack" Brooks, in medical practice.
Gloria and Donald were never so happy. They were perfectly matched, realizing how lucky they were that God had brought them together. They reveled in their good fortune but always tried to keep others in mind by reaching out to and serving the larger community.
Soon afterward, another son, Ralph was born, followed by Michael, and then Gloria Anne. Gloria doted on her young family but found time over the years to be very active in Fort Worth society including participation in The Links, a ladies' service organization, "Circle-Let's" and the Smart Set, an up-and-coming social club. She also did volunteer work for several charities including the Fort Worth Leukemia Society.
Gloria loved to entertain and she enjoyed hosting parties of all sizes with very eclectic guest lists. She also had an interest in horticulture, especially African violets, which she tended to with special care.
Another passion of hers was oriental ornaments, which she collected from far and wide.
Yes, Gloria loved life, but she loved her family even more. She was always so proud of their accomplishments and bragged on them whenever the chance presented itself. She kept scrapbooks of their achievements, which ranged from ballet to football and from prowess on the piano to academic achievement.
What's more, she and Donald exposed their children to the fine arts, the performing arts and travel. But, more importantly, they taught their children about how to be good citizens in an unforgiving world, where nothing is given to you except what you earn and where many a misstep can occur without a strong moral compass.
She was preceded in death by her beloved, Donald; oldest son, Donald "Donnie" Arthur Brooks Jr.; and sister, Hermione Thomas Powell of Trenton, N.J.
Survivors: Loving children, Ralph Anthony Brooks, Michael Edwin Brooks and Gloria Anne Brooks; daughter-in-law, Jennifer Carrington Brooks and her mother, Elsie Ward; grandchildren, Alicia Brooks and Michael "Mikey" Brooks Jr.; sister, Eleanor Yearwood and her husband, Elliot, of Washington, D.C.; brother, Ralph Herman Smith of Washington, D.C.; and a host of nieces, nephews and many other members of her extended family.