George Benjamin Brooks, Sr.

George Benjamin “Sonny” Brooks died peacefully in his sleep, after a long illness on June 15, 2023 at Meadow Park Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Catonsville, Maryland. He was 90 years old.

     George was a Thanksgiving baby, born to Dorothy Virginia Brooks and Benjamin Edward Thomas on November 25, 1932 in Easton, Maryland.

      He received his education in Talbot County Public Schools, graduating in 1949 from R.R. Moton High School. Shortly after graduation, he relocated to Baltimore, where he worked for his uncle, Arthur Brooks, alongside his cousin, Ronald Brooks, both deceased. In 1950, he joined the U.S. Army, serving in the Korean War with the 82nd Airborne Division. He married his sweetheart Geneva (nee) Jordan, on November 4, 1951 and they raised a son, George Benjamin (“Benny”) Brooks, Jr.  George was a devoted husband and father, and he and Geneva were together until her death in 1989.

     After his release from the Army in 1953,  George worked briefly for the Glenn L. Martin Company in Middle River, Maryland. He retired as a Security Officer from the Federal Reserve after many years of service.

     George played basketball in high school, and throughout his life he loved sports. He enjoyed following baseball, basketball and football. He was a diehard Ravens fan. A gregarious and witty person, George “never met a stranger.” He loved to socialize and had many friends and family members who enjoyed his upbeat personality and his down to earth wisdom. He was also known for his clothes sense; he was always immaculately turned out, a true dapper gentleman.

     In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Doris Brooks and Patricia A.Watson, a special uncle, Richard Brooks and his wife, Ruth Brooks, who both played a significant role in his young life.

     George is survived by his son, Benny, cousin, Rev. Earl Maurice Brooks, to whom he was very close, and his wife Lillie Brooks, a very dear cousin, Janet Brooks, sisters, Carol A. Parran, Dr. Shirley T. Thomas, and brother, David E. Thomas, nieces, Valerie M. Brooks, Portia A. Phillips, who was actively involved in his nursing home care, nephew, Dwayne E. Brooks and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and his long-time Baltimore neighbors. 

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