Marjorie " Marji " L. Brooks

Marjorie L. Brooks of Monmouth, Illinois, died on August 1, 2011 at Galesburg Cottage Hospital following an extended illness. Marji was born in Monmouth, Illinois on October 30, 1933, the oldest daughter of the late Charles B. and Daisy Williams Brooks. "Marji" was raised in Monmouth where she attended Harding elementary school, Central Junior High, and Monmouth High School graduating with the class of 1952. She was the first African American cheerleader at M.H.S. and played basketball once scoring fifty points in one game. She then went on to attend both Western Illinois and Monmouth College. Marji worked over twenty years in the claims department of Alstate Insurance Company in Waukegan, Illinois before returning to Monmouth where she worked for the City of Monmouth, as a receptionist and personal assistant to the City Clerk, Susan Trevor. Marji was a member and very active in St.James AME Church of Monmouth holding offices on the local and district levels of her church. Celebrating her home going are her brothers: Raymond R. (Failyn) Brooks of Las Vegas NV, Glenn A. Brooks of Los Angeles CA, and Chris B. (Cynthia) Brooks of Monmouth IL. One sister, Ada L. Groff of Denver CO. A host of cousins, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephew, and great great nieces and nephews. Ms Brooks is preceded in death by her parents, three brothers: Charles Elmer, Paul Edward and Donald Williams Brooks, and one sister, Ira Brooks Walsh. Services:A funeral service for Marji will be on Friday August 5, 2011 at 10:00 am at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, Illinois. Her family plans visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 pm pm on Thursday evening also at the funeral home. At the request of Marjorie and her family please refrain from wearing black. Colorful clothes are requested. Interment will follow the service in Warren County Memorial Park Cemetery. A memorial fund is being established for St.James AME Church of Monmouth, IL