Robbie Hutchings Brooks

Born on December 12, 1935, in Longview, TX to Evia (Chumley) Taylor and Quincy Taylor, Robbie Mae Taylor was the youngest of four siblings. She suffered the loss of her mother very early in her life and would receive much of her maternal guidance from an aunt, Victoria Taylor.

She dedicated her life to Christ at a young age at Pleasant Green Baptist Church in Longview, which sowed the seeds faith a servitude that would guide her for decades to come. Robbie went on to complete her high school diploma from Ned E. Williams School in 1954.

She became Robbie Taylor-Hutchings after joining her first husband, John D. Hutchings Sr., in holy matrimony in 1961. In addition to becoming a wife, Robbie proudly took on the role of stepmother to John Sr.'s children from a previous marriage, John D. Hutchings Jr. and Patricia Hutchings. Shortly after saying "I do", the newlyweds welcomed their first and only child together, Robert "Hutch" Hutchings.

The new chapter led Robbie to become a faithful member of New Hope Church of Christ (formerly Corinth Church of Christ) as well as multiple successful entrepreneurial ventures. As husband and wife, Robbie and John opened the Big Dipper restaurant and the Hutchings Apartments in Longview to provide essential services to their community.

In 1979, Robert tragically passed in a fatal car accident, months shy of his high school graduation, and John Sr. joined their son in heaven two years later.

However, the storm did not last forever. Robbie found the strength press forward, eventually finding love again with her second husband Joe E. Brooks. Her family would instantly grow again, as she became a stepmother to his three children, Glenn M. Brooks, Dorothy Brooks-Lee and Virginia Brooks-Alexander.

Her marriage to Joe led her to East Cotton Street Church of Christ, where she was heavily involved as a Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School Teacher, SWCC representative, Elder's wife, Tuesday morning Bible Study Teacher and a cook and server for more than 20 years.

Affectionately known as Aunt Robbie, Mrs. Hutchings and Sister Brooks by hundreds of people in the community, her true passion was serving others in alignment with her Christian upbringing. In her later years, she enjoyed spending time with her sister, Reba, supporting her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, tending to her yard and garden, water aerobics, shopping, cheering on the Lobos and Dallas Cowboys, getting her hair done at the Unicorn by her beloved daughter-in-law Mammie Brooks, and attending lady's day programs and church revivals.

Robbie is survived by her sisters Reba Canida and Kathy Taylor-Wright; brothers, Charles Taylor, Sydney Taylor, Quincy Taylor, Vernon Taylor and Billy Taylor; nieces, Annetta McLeod-Mathis, Rita Stoker, Marilyn McLeod and Cynthia Akilo; and a host of grand and great-grandchildren and great nieces and nephews.