Janet Marie Brooking

Janet Marie Brooking passed away on November 13, 2023. She is survived by her brother Edward, his partner Lisa, and her three children, Lorin, Mikey, and Raeanne, and a large extended family and circle of friends. Janet grew up in Orange, Virginia, and was a long-time resident of Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from Mary Baldwin College and earned a Certificate of Philanthropy from the University of Richmond. Janet’s long list of professional accomplishments includes her most recent tenure as the Executive Director of Drive Smart Virginia since 2005, where she won dozens of awards for her work in traffic safety. Her proudest accomplishment was advocating for the families of victims of traffic crashes. Janet loved music and was an accomplished pianist. She loved to travel, explore great restaurants, and host friends and family at her river home in Center Cross, Virginia. She built a substantial group of friends, spanning from childhood and college to her professional career and various adventures. She will be remembered for her strength, grace, and sense of humor, all of which she maintained through her two-year battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held at Oak Chapel Baptist Church, 11415 Montford Road, Orange, VA, at 11:00 am on Friday, November 17th, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, support.vcu.edu/give/MCVF and choose Massey Cancer Center, or send a check payable to the MCV Foundation, 1228 East Broad Street, Box 980234, Richmond, Virginia 23298. or The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, vmfa.museum/give.