Hope Lewis Brooks

Hope L. Brooks, age 99, of Longwood, Fl passed away in the early morning hours of July 28, 2018. She was born, January 10, 1919, in her family’s home at 200 Main Street, Matawan, New Jersey. Hope graduated from Lake Wales High School in FL in 1937. She attended Stetson College in Deland, Maryland Woman’s College, and nursing school at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC.

Hope married Captain George H. Brooks, (PhD) in his parent’s home in Ithaca, NY on December 4, 1942. Before George went overseas during the war, they lived several different places for his training. They would make their home in Gainesville, FL in a 21 foot trailer when George returned. That future would hold many moves for education and career opportunities, but Florida was where they both considered “home.”

Hope and George had a daughter, Marcia and a son, Ralph, and they also experienced two early losses through miscarriages. Hope loved to crochet sofa and baby blankets that she gifted to family and friends. She did rug hooking wall hangings, cross-stitch, and other crafts. She volunteered at the voting polls, as a Pink Lady, in the nursing home as well as playing a major role in the Red Cross program. She worked as an office manager in the bank and in the Department of Debarkation during the war. Hope also supported her daughter’s SHARE Atlanta group for pregnancy and newborn loss grief support in numerous different ways since 1984.

Hope will be lovingly remembered by her son, Ralph Marquet Brooks (Debbie), her daughter, Marcia Hope McGinnis (Leon) 5 grandchildren: Shawn Brooks (Becky), Valerie Delnegro., Kevin Brooks (Cory), Joel McGinnis (Amity), Aaron McGinnis (Gina) 8 Great Grandchildren: Colton Brooks, Connor Brooks, Kelsey Brooks, Michael Delnegro, Bryan Delnegro, Faelan McGinnis, Mab McGinnis, Rhona McGinnis. Hope was preceded in death by her husband, George, on June 30, 1990, her parents, Howard and Edith Lewis, her brother, Ralph Lewis, and by three grandbabies: Catherine McGinnis, Elizabeth McGinnis, Seth McGinnis.

A Celebration of Hope’s Life will be held from 11 to 12 , Friday, August 3, 2018 at Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home in Altamonte Springs, FL. A brief “Rest In Love and Peace” graveside service will follow at 12:30 at All Faiths Memorial Park with “Amazing Grace” played on the bagpipes by Joel.

The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 in the chapel at the funeral home. We want to thank extended family, friends, and the Hospice of the Comforter for their loving prayers and support of Hope during the last few weeks. Those who wish may make memorial donations in memory of Hope to SHARE Atlanta (www.shareatlanta.org/legacy/main.htm) or the Wounded Warriors.