Reflection of the life of Jessie Brooks, Jr.
A TIME TO BE BORN
Jessie Brooks, Jr. was orn on June 19, 1948 in Sunflower County, Mississippi, to the late Jessie Brooks Sr. and Zudie Mae Brooks.
A TIME TO LAUGH…A TIME TO DANCE…A TIME TO LOVE
Jessie was truly an anointed vessel of God. He confessed his faith in Christ as a child at Macedonia Church of God in Moorhead, Mississippi, under the leadership of the late Rev. Whitfield Harrington.
Jessie was a graduate of Gentry High School in Indianola, Mississippi, and a graduate of Mississippi Valley State University. Jessie served his country as part of the United States Army and received an honorable discharge after being injured during the Vietnam War.
Jessie became an Air Traffic Controller in Aurdra, Illinois, and later became an Air Traffic Controller Instructor.
After retirement, Jessie moved to Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, and attended Light Of Life church under the leadership of the late Rev. Donald J. Edwards. Jessie returned to Moorehead to care for his father and resumed attendance at Macedonia Church of God under the leadership of his late Aunt, Pastor Lorine Douglas.
Jessie married Gail Biggs Jackson in April 2015. They enjoyed living in Coral Gables, Florida, and Negril, Jamaica. They shared a love of travel, skiing, marathons, golf, and spending time with a host of friends and relatives.
Jessie had a passion for adventure —he loved to travel internationally and drive his RV around the United States. He loved snow skiing, but his greatest passion was playing golf. On many sunny days, you could find Jessie on the golf course happily playing eighteen holes, or more. Jessie co-sponsored “The Pioneer Golf Tournament” in Canton, Ohio, for over 17 years, benefiting the Clearview Golf Course, one of the few Black-owned golf courses in the United States.
A TIME TO MOURN
On Monday, March 20, 2023, Jessie made his peaceful transition at the Veterans Hospital in Miami, Florida, during his short illness. He was surrounded and cared for by his devoted wife and close family members.
Jessie leaves to cherish his memories: A loving wife, Gail; a son, Raphael Sr.; a grandson, Raphael Jr; three sisters, Mary Holland (Robert), Gloria Mack (Tom Ellis), and Omadell Brooks; and one brother, Curtis Brooks (Herbie), and a host of aunts, an uncle, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and special friends.
