Reginald George Brooks

Reginald George Brooks, affectionately called Reggie, was born on March 22, 1958, in Chicago, IL, to the union of Frank and Jacqueline Brooks. He was the third of four children, Jacqueline Queenesther, Celestine and Keith.

Reggie was raised on the near North Side of Chicago, in the Cabrini Green Housing Complex. He received his formal education through the Chicago School System. He attended Richard E. Byrd, St. Dominics and St. Joseph Elementary Schools. He graduated from the Central YMCA High School in June 1976. He furthered his education at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, where he was currently enrolled. He was writing a memoir on his upbringing in Cabrini Green.

As a child, Reggie spent every summer in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was the favorite grandchild of his maternal grandparents George and Mary Lou Dixon, affectionately called "Big Mom." Reggie worked with Daddy George at various construction sites. He would run errands for the crew and come home with a day's pay. After his grandmother's passing in November 1967, Reggie relocated with Daddy George to Flint, Michigan in June 1968, and returned in 1974.

For many years, Reggie was employed in various positions. He worked at U.S. Steel Corporation in Gary, Indiana, Packerland Packing in Green Bay, Wisconsin and Pamida in Lebanon, Indiana.

In his passing, Reggie leaves to cherish precious memories, sons: Billy D. Howard and Reginald Brooks, daughters: Bianca L. Brooks and Regina McFadden, mother, Jacqueline Brooks, sisters: Jacqueline Queenesther Najee-ullah (Arthur), Celestine Brooks and Ramona T. Hendricks, brothers: Keith Brooks and Steven Hendricks, nephews: Henry Brooks (Karin), Donte' Partee and Lance Hill, great-nieces: Chantay Lewis and Jacqueline J. Brooks, great-nephews: Daniel McDonald and Darren Brooks, aunts, Charlie Mae Brooks and Cynthia Givens, childhood friends: Ephriam Childs, Wayne Edwards and David Robinson, and a host of cousins and friends.