Jennie Ruth Brooks

1932 - 2025

Jennie Ruth (Barbour) Brooks Morehead City - Mrs. Jennie Ruth Barbour Brooks, 92, passed away on Friday, September 26, 2025 at Crystal Bluff Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Morehead City. A celebration of life will be conducted on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 11 AM in the Chapel at Brooks and White Funeral Home in Roxboro. Burial will follow in Burchwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends after the service at the graveside. Jennie was born December 20, 1932 in Erwin, NC, the daughter of the late Frederick and Elizabeth Morris Barbour. She grew up in Dunn, NC, graduating from Dunn High School, Campbell Junior College in Buies Creek, Meredith College in Raleigh, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She spent 37 years as an elementary teacher in Miami, FL, Durham and Roxboro, NC, served as a professor at Campbell University, and was an elementary principal in Dunn. In 1956, she married Clyde Long Brooks of Roxboro. They reared three fine sons. After living in Dunn for 32 years, they moved to Greenville, NC to be near their sons and families. While in Greenville, Jennie was a member of Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church where she was very active in Choir, Sunday School, United Methodist Women, Administrative Board, and other church committees. Clyde and Jennie's home was always the gathering place for family and friends. They were a loving and close-knit family and everyone (especially the nieces and nephews) have many wonderful memories of being at 'Aunt Jennie and Uncle Clyde's house.' Thanksgiving gatherings were particularly memorable. Aunt Jennie would have all the children dress up in pilgrim costumes she had made and perform something they had learned in school. When they grew up and resisted, Aunt Jennie enlisted the adults to take over the roles. Jennie was preceded in death by the love of her life and husband of 57 years, Clyde Long Brooks, and four siblings, Morris Barbour, Rev. Carroll Barbour, Faye Tew and Hershel Barbour. She is survived by her sons, Dr. Clyde Brooks, Jr. and wife, Michelle, of Pine Knoll Shores; David Brooks of Morehead City; and Jonathan Brooks and wife, Anne, of Greenville; her beloved grandchildren, Kathryn B. McLean and husband, Stewart; Stuart Brooks and wife, Neel, of Winston-Salem; Gray Brooks of Greenville; Emmie Brooks of Raleigh; Scott Gray and wife, Bethany, of Vilas; Erin Gray of New York City; and Emily Hall and husband, Justin, of Cary; and great-grandchildren, MacKay and West Brooks of Winston-Salem. Memorial donations may be made to Meredith College, 3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607. Online condolences may be posted at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com. Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com