Beacons of the Community

Together, Faye and Gerald Brooks treasure education, family, and service to others

by JENNIFER JORDAN

Photo by ALAMOND PHOTOGRAPHY

As a 24-year breast cancer survivor, Faye appreciated the support of her family members during the 2019 Race for the Cure® held in Texarkana.

A longtime educator, Gerald served as the assistant principal of Pine Street Junior High School.

Service and devotion to one’s community has long been regarded as the mark of an exemplary citizen. Gerald Brooks fits this model through his decades of work in Texarkana. Together with his wife, Faye, Gerald shines as a beacon for community and neighborhood stewardship. 

Education forms the backbone of Gerald’s life. He grew up in Tyler, graduating from Emmett J. Scott High School and earning a bachelor’s degree from Texas College, one of the nation’s oldest Black colleges. There, Gerald met fellow freshman Ruthie Faye James. Faye was born and raised on a farm in the Mount Olive community in Cass County, which has been an important aspect of her life. “She taught me a great deal of how to work and care for the farm,” Gerald remarks. Two years after meeting, the couple married.

While in college, Gerald joined the Omega Phi Psi service fraternity and currently celebrates 60 years of continuous service. Upon graduation, Texarkana became the Brooks’ home. Gerald began his educational career at TISD in 1963 as a classroom teacher at Dunbar High School, an all-black campus, and later moved to Pine Street Junior High. He continued his education by receiving a master’s degree in Education, with 24 hours of post-degree work in school administration, from East Texas State University. Soon, Gerald worked as an assistant principal at Pine Street and moved to Texas High School as an assistant principal in 1985. He also served as an adjunct history professor at Texarkana College from 1970-1990, teaching U.S. history and Black history.  Gerald has also taught classes at the Federal Corrections Institution. After 40 years of service to TISD, Gerald retired in 2003, but he has not slowed down even a bit. In all of his years teaching, the highlight is working with students and seeing them “learn and grow.” “The future of education looks very bright for all who want to learn a skill or earn a degree,” Gerald comments. 

Gerald’s continuous involvement in local organizations demonstrates a deep commitment to our community. In addition to his service at FCI and Texarkana College, Gerald has been elected to the TISD Board of Trustees four times after being appointed to fill Dr. James S. Grant’s District 2 seat in 2013. He currently serves as Vice President. Gerald also mentors fourth and fifth graders at Waggoner Creek Elementary school. “I would like to see our students take advantage of the educational opportunities available in this area,” he states. In addition to his educational volunteerism, Gerald maintains memberships in several teachers’ associations, both at the local and state level, and has served as Treasurer of the local Texas Retired Teachers Association affiliate chapter as well as Finance committee member at the state level. 

Gerald and Faye with their three children, Angela, Yolanda and Grallin, during the late ’70s.

Gerald was the first Black to be elected to the TEXAR Federal Credit Union Board of Directors in 1974, a position he held for over 20 years. In his time on the TEXAR Board, Gerald served as Chairman. He was also one of the first Blacks to desegregate TISD in 1967. He and Faye were the first Blacks appointed to work the Bowie County general elections. They are active members of Oak Street Baptist Church, where both serve on the Senior Usher Board and Gerald on the Financial Committee.  

Gerald and Faye’s hearts belong to their family. They celebrate 60 years of marriage and have raised three children—daughters, Angela Bunn and Yolanda Evans, and son, Grallin Brooks, who have given them a total of 10 grandchildren. Angela has four daughters – Deyaunna, Deneshya, Dominique, and Dyashia, while Yolanda has two daughters, Brandy and Brittany. Grallin has two sons—Brandon and Demetrius—and two daughters—Carmella and Chakeeia. Gerald and Faye also have 17 great-grandchildren, with two on the way. 

Carmella, Grallin, Courtlyn and Gerald enjoy visiting with Gerald’s mother, Cleo Caldwell, during a family gathering.

After raising their children, Faye worked in production at the Lone Star Army Ammunition plant as well as Johnson Control Battery Division. She is a 24-year breast cancer survivor. Upon retirement, Faye applied her lifelong horticultural skills to become a Master gardener. Both Faye and Gerald enjoy working in their garden and yard during the spring and summer months. Every week they drive to Faye’s family farm to check on her mother who turned 97 years old this June. When they are not volunteering, Gerald and Faye like to listen to jazz music and travel with their family. 

One of Gerald and Faye’s favorite quotes is “no man is an island and no man stands alone.” This sentiment highlights the couple’s dedication to their family and to their greater community. They are role models for their family, for the countless students Gerald has taught, and for the citizens of Texarkana who benefit from their service.  Not only have the Brookses espoused the tenets of education and hard work, they have also shown people the value of caring and doing for others. It is as simple as Gerald eloquently states, “Love one another.”