Abbie Beatrice Agnew Brooks

Birth

Abbie Beatrice Agnew Brooks was born March 14, 1930, in Fayette County, Fayette, Alabama. She is the 10th of 11 children and the youngest daughter of Deacon Dilmus Alonzo Agnew and Mother Abbie Glascox Agnew. She was the only surviving child of the eleven children. Her siblings were Deacon Johnny C. Agnew (Missouri Ham Agnew), Mittie Agnew Ham (Raymond Ham), Zannie Agnew (Elkin Worthy), Cardell Agnew Walker (William Walker), SGT. Roy Chester Agnew (Lizzie Agnew), Eben C. Agnew (Georgia C. Ham Agnew), Deacon Lonzie Agnew (Beulah Carr Agnew), Ezell Agnew (died from fever in early childhood), Lula Ovella Agnew Shaw (Deacon Willie Shaw) and Min. Dilmus Howard Agnew (Lurlene Ham Agnew).

Church

At a young age, Abbie Beatrice Agnew Brooks became a member of Gibson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Fayette, Alabama. She joined Mt. Zion Baptist Church with her husband (Bernest Brooks) and was active in the Missionary Society and the Matron’s Society. They became members of St. Beulah Baptist Church and Bethany Baptist Church.

Marriage

Abbie Beatrice Agnew and Bernest Brooks met at Alabama State Teacher’s College and was married across the state line of Mississippi in 1952. To this holy union, four beautiful children were born: Gregory Andrea Brooks of Daleville, Alabama (heavenly transition July 4, 2017), Deborah Ardell Brooks Crum (Ellis) of Gloucester, Virginia, Constance Denise Brooks-West (Mark) of Chester, Virginia and Timothy DeMarcus Brooks of Enterprise, Alabama. She was blessed with three granddaughters, Veronica Lynette Weaver-Rivers, Iyalonna Brooks West, and Adrionna Brooks West (heavenly transition September 3, 2023). This loving union of 70 years had an earthly pause on February 2, 2022, after the heavenly transition of Bernest Brooks. Back together again.

Mrs. Beatrice was preceded in death by loving brother and sisters-in-law, Leavy May Brooks, Jack Brooks (Lula), Earleon Brooks (Lillie Ruth), Hattie Brooks-Allen (George) and Oscar Brooks and his wife Mary Brooks who she loved dearly and would often reference her in conversations.

Education and Work

Abbie Beatrice Agnew Brooks attended public schools at Gibson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church School. She graduated from Fayette County Training School, Fayette, Alabama, attended and graduated from Alabama State Teachers College (Alabama State University) in Montgomery, Alabama. Her concentration of study was Elementary Education. Her first teaching assignment was in Elba City Schools teaching 6th grade. She taught school in Coffee County, New Brockton’s Warren Smith School. Mrs. Brooks enjoyed many years of teaching at Daleville Elementary School and Windham Elementary School where she retired.

Social Activities

Mrs. Beatrice Brooks was a founding member of the Delta Sigma Zeta Chapter of Alpha Pi Chi Sorority, as well as a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She also was a member of the National Education Association, Dale County Retired Teachers Association, President of Alabama Democratic Conference, NAACP, Silver Hair Legislator for the State of Alabama and was a contestant on the state level for Mrs. Senior Alabama.

Retirement

In retirement, Mrs. Brooks enjoyed gardening, working in their vegetable stand, annual cruising with friends, and spending time with her children and grandchildren and helping area senior citizens.

Services will be held 11:00 A.M., Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Open Door Baptist Church, 1509 Rucker Boulevard, Enterprise, Alabama 36330, Pastor John McCrummen, Pastor and Officiant, Pastor Greg Cotter, eulogist. The interment will be held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, Enterprise, Alabama.

J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwikerson1874.com.