Emily Adelaide Brooks

Adelaide Brooks, beloved mother, sister, wife and aunt, passed to be with her Lord September 11, 2017. She was preceded in death by her husband Bob and her brother Don. She is survived by her beloved son David and wife Nancy of Raleigh, dear sister and best friend Betty Lehardy of Raleigh, devoted niece Nancy Lehardy Ferguson and husband Greg of Rocky Mount, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and great grand nieces and nephews
Adelaide was born in Baltimore Maryland in 1917. She came from a close knit family and always had fond remembrances of visiting her Baltimore relatives as well as the family members still in Virginia. She was the first in her family to attend college thanks to the financial help from her Aunt Adelaide (Addie), for whom she was named, and graduated from Towson State Teachers College (now Towson University). After graduating she started her lifelong career of teaching elementary school. First in the Baltimore County schools, then Hartford Day School in Bel Air, Md. and eventually at Ravenscroft in Raleigh.
Adelaide met her husband Bob at a war-time dance for officers in Baltimore which she was hosting. When he introduced himself she told him she knew only one Brooks who worked with her Aunt Addie at the bank. It turns out that she was Bob’s aunt and the two aunts quickly decided that it was OK for these two young people to date. Bob and Adelaide were married on Christmas 1943 and shortly thereafter Bob shipped out to the Pacific. After the war was over Bob was stationed in Hawaii and Adelaide was able to join him for several wonderful years before they came back to the states.
When they came back from Hawaii they moved back to Baltimore where Bob worked for Glen L Martin Company and continued in the reserves. Their son David was born in 1955 and they moved to Bel Air, Maryland shortly afterwards. In 1963 Bob had an opportunity with RTI, a new company in Raleigh North Carolina and so they moved to the then brand new subdivision of North Hills. Adelaide resumed her teaching career at Ravenscroft School, was active in the League of Women Voters, and played piano and organ for many years at Trinity Baptist Church, where Bob also served as a deacon. After retirement they moved to Wake Forest and were members of Wake Forest Baptist. After Bob passed in 1995, Adelaide moved to Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community where she was actively involved in the Women’s Club and other activities for many years.
The family expresses sincere thanks to the caring staff at Springmoor’s Stewart Health Center.
A memorial service will be held in the Springmoor Auditorium Sunday September 17,2017 at 3PM. The family will greet friends and guests following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to WCPE radio or UNC-TV would be appreciated.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
www.brightfunerals.com

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