Mai Vera Brooks
April 24th, 1937 - May 21st, 2024
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Mai Vera's Obituary
Mai Vera Brooks sun rose on April 24, 1937 in Gates, Tennessee, the daughter of Samuel J. Lacy, Sr. and Lura A. (Leak) Lacy. Through her formative years, she enjoyed life on the farm with her sisters and brothers.
She was blessed to have the love of two men in her lifetime, Willie Thomas Lee whom she married on March 1, 1956 and precedes her in death. Mai Vera moved her growing family to Gary, Indiana and then from there to Dowagiac. She enjoyed employment outside of the home for a brief period at Duwell but she knew her 6 children needed her more at home. She found herself a young widow with six children but her faith in God never wavered.
She was united in marriage to her second love Leo Brooks on August 31, 1974 and precedes her in death. And God continued to fill their home. This dynamic duo team created a farm to sustain their large family. Mai Vera guarded and guided her children with quiet, calm wisdom and love. She was a master unparalleled in the kitchen, ask her children.
Mai Vera was a dedicated member and on the Mothers Council of Peace Temple. Her beautiful voice filled the church on Sundays but also her home. She passed this gift on to her children, who she made sure attended church as well. Throughout her life she befriended many with her kindness and generosity. There was not a person she could not speak to and they not feel welcomed and appreciated. She shared her smile, love of life, love of God, and laughter wherever she went.
The sun set upon Mai Vera peacefully as she slept on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. She leaves to cherish her memory: eleven children - Gregory (Tammy) Lee, Dyer (Feisal) Salahadyn, Vernard (Aaron) Hunter, Lincoln Lee, Calvin (Ruth) Lee, Arqullia (Willie) Lewis, Leola (James) Boatright, Leo (Brandi) Brooks, Joshua (Tiffany) Brooks, Mai Vera (Michael Bishop) Brooks, and Jeremiah (Susette) Brooks; an honorable lifelong son Kirby Smith; 46 grandchildren; 79 great-grandchildren; 26 great great grandchildren; three siblings – Orapha Crook, Avery Halliburton, and Laura Morgan; and many extended family members and close friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents - Samuel J. Lacy, Sr. and Lura A. (Leak) Lacy; four children – Patricia Drake, Willie Thomas Lee, Jr, Rebecca Lee and Ronald Lee; and six siblings – Florence Sparks, Earline Mitchell, Idella Stenson, Leak Lacy, Samuel Lacy, and Deborah Pitts.
A Celebration of Life Homegoing Service will be held at 12:00 PM on Friday, May 31, 2024, at Peace Temple Church of God in Christ, 102 Andrew St, Dowagiac, where friends may visit with the family from 11:00 AM until the time of service. Interment will follow in Mission Hills Memory Gardens, Niles. Arrangements were entrusted to Clark Chapel, Dowagiac. Please visit Mai’s personalized webpage to share a memory or leave a condolence to her family at www.clarkch.com.
She was blessed to have the love of two men in her lifetime, Willie Thomas Lee whom she married on March 1, 1956 and precedes her in death. Mai Vera moved her growing family to Gary, Indiana and then from there to Dowagiac. She enjoyed employment outside of the home for a brief period at Duwell but she knew her 6 children needed her more at home. She found herself a young widow with six children but her faith in God never wavered.
She was united in marriage to her second love Leo Brooks on August 31, 1974 and precedes her in death. And God continued to fill their home. This dynamic duo team created a farm to sustain their large family. Mai Vera guarded and guided her children with quiet, calm wisdom and love. She was a master unparalleled in the kitchen, ask her children.
Mai Vera was a dedicated member and on the Mothers Council of Peace Temple. Her beautiful voice filled the church on Sundays but also her home. She passed this gift on to her children, who she made sure attended church as well. Throughout her life she befriended many with her kindness and generosity. There was not a person she could not speak to and they not feel welcomed and appreciated. She shared her smile, love of life, love of God, and laughter wherever she went.
The sun set upon Mai Vera peacefully as she slept on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. She leaves to cherish her memory: eleven children - Gregory (Tammy) Lee, Dyer (Feisal) Salahadyn, Vernard (Aaron) Hunter, Lincoln Lee, Calvin (Ruth) Lee, Arqullia (Willie) Lewis, Leola (James) Boatright, Leo (Brandi) Brooks, Joshua (Tiffany) Brooks, Mai Vera (Michael Bishop) Brooks, and Jeremiah (Susette) Brooks; an honorable lifelong son Kirby Smith; 46 grandchildren; 79 great-grandchildren; 26 great great grandchildren; three siblings – Orapha Crook, Avery Halliburton, and Laura Morgan; and many extended family members and close friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents - Samuel J. Lacy, Sr. and Lura A. (Leak) Lacy; four children – Patricia Drake, Willie Thomas Lee, Jr, Rebecca Lee and Ronald Lee; and six siblings – Florence Sparks, Earline Mitchell, Idella Stenson, Leak Lacy, Samuel Lacy, and Deborah Pitts.
A Celebration of Life Homegoing Service will be held at 12:00 PM on Friday, May 31, 2024, at Peace Temple Church of God in Christ, 102 Andrew St, Dowagiac, where friends may visit with the family from 11:00 AM until the time of service. Interment will follow in Mission Hills Memory Gardens, Niles. Arrangements were entrusted to Clark Chapel, Dowagiac. Please visit Mai’s personalized webpage to share a memory or leave a condolence to her family at www.clarkch.com.
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