Edna Marie Brooks

Edna Marie Brooks, age 104, went home to be with the Lord and to be with her parents, Allen and Emma Jane Wade; her beloved husband, John Brooks; her son James E.E. Brooks (Kaaren Courtney-Brooks) and daughter, Ruth N. Thompson, as well as several brothers and sisters. She leaves behind to celebrate her memory her daughter and son-in-law, Lula J. and Samuel Clark; 9 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren; also sister-in-law, Eliza Lester. She was a lifetime member of Rehoboth Temple, 1111 E. Long St., Columbus, OH 43203 where services will be held Friday, November 12, 2010 at 12noon; Family will receive friends beginning at 11am; Pastor Hala Batarseh, officiating; Interment to follow at Glen Rest Memorial Estate. Those who wish, in lieu of flowers, may contribute to Rehoboth Temple in Edna’s memory. Arrangements entrusted to Schoedinger East Chapel (861-6268). Please visit www.schoedinger.com to share memories or condolences.

Edna M. Brooks was born Edna Marie Wade in Martinsville, Va., December 17, 1905 to Allen and Emma Bassett Wade. Their union produced 12 children; Rufus, Henry, Edward, Joseph, Sylvester, Annie, Maggie, Carrie, Janie, a set of twin boys who died when they were young and Edna. Edna was the last surviving sibling.

Edna’s mother was a school teacher and a seamstress and her father was a farmer. The family’s transportation was a sheet covered wagon pulled by mules. Two preachers were in the family; Grandfather, William Henry Bassett, who was a Baptist Preacher and uncle, Daniel Bassett who at that time was called a Christian Disciple Minister.

When Edna was a young girl her mother and sister taught her how to sew. She used to make dolls stuffed with rags left over from sewing. She would give the dolls arms, legs, and feet. She would make socks for the dolls and shoes made of leather from old shoes. At that time her hair was long and she would cut pieces of her hair and sew it onto the doll’s head. She would keep her dolls in what they called a gunny sack. When Edna started school one of her teachers tried to get her to stop writing with her left hand and use her right hand. The teacher would hit her hand with a ruler each time she wrote with her left hand but she continued to write with her left hand so the teacher finally left her alone.

Edna took piano lessons and learned to play the organ from playing the piano. Her oldest brother, Rufus taught her how to play the guitar. Edna would play the piano for her brothers and sisters while they danced the one step, the two step and the waltz. She also played the mouth harp. Edna loved to wash dishes. She always told us with a smile how she started washing dishes when she was 8 years old. She was so small she would stand on a platform. No matter what family functions we would have and no matter how many people, the dishes were hers.

Edna was very young when her mother died so her father took over raising the children. When her father died she was the only on left at home so she went to live with her oldest brother, Rufus Wade and his wife, Mary. She attended Piedmont Training Center in Martinsville where she learned to cook and sew. Edna could make the best rolls and she would often make house shoes.

Edna left Virginia to go to Columbus, Ohio to stay with her brother, Edward Wade, met and fell in love with John Brooks and they were married in the 1930’s. That union brought forth 3 children, James, Ruth, and Lula and the amazing thing about that is all 3 children were left handed.

Edna worked for the Government Depot during the war; she worked for a private family for years, cooking, cleaning, etc. She also worked as a nurse aide at OSU Hospital until she lost her hearing and had to retire. Her favorite foods were fried chicken and spaghetti. She enjoyed making apple and peach cobblers, biscuits, crackling cornbread with buttermilk, and was especially known for her delicious rolls.