Submitted by: Dan Rich
Ora L. Brooks
South Bend Tribune 8/15/2005
Evangelist Ora Lee Brooks, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, spiritual advisor and dear friend, a resident of South Bend, Indiana, departed this life on Wednesday, August 10, 2005, at 1:20 p.m. Ora Lee, the second eldest child of three daughters, was born on March 13, 1934, in Oxford, Mississippi, to the union of Mr. George and Addie Mae (Johnson) Miller. Moving from West Memphis, Arkansas to South Bend, Indiana in 1943, at a very young age, Mother Brooks accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior under the leadership of the late Elder J.B. Davis of Saints Memorial Church of God in Christ.
In November 1965, she was united in holy matrimony to superintendent Leonard Jr. Mother Brooks received her evangelist license in 1973 from 1st Jurisdiction of Indiana North under the late state supervisor, Beulah Hatchett, and Bishop William O. Blakely. She attended and graduated from the St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, Mishawaka, Indiana, and received her certificate of completion in the "Heart of Man" studies from the World Harvest Bible College, South Bend.
Dr. and Mother Brooks worked under the grand leadership of the late great Pastor, W.O. Coates Sr., and the late Pastor Joseph A. Jennings. In 1976, her husband, Dr. Brooks Jr., was appointed pastor of Wayside Temple Church of God in Christ, Elkhart, by the late Bishop WM. Blakely. At Wayside, she labored and worked through the years teaching, preaching and winning souls to the Lord. Mother Brooks was an anointed and appointed woman of God who stood with her husband in the ministry that God had given them. She stood for holiness, for without which no man shall see the Lord. She taught God's people to stand the test of life's storms and after having done all to stand, stand therefore. Evangelist Brooks had blessed others with her love and compassion, in particular, her love for God and the knowledge of God's word. She spent countless hours in teaching ministry for the "Perfecting of the Saints."
Evangelist Brooks leaves to cherish her memory; her loving husband, Dr. Superintendent Leonard Brooks Jr.; seven children, Mr. Herbert Miller, Mr. Michael and Hazel Kirk Miller, Ms. Kim Miller and Brenda Brooks, all of South Bend, IN., Mrs. Vickie (Cedric) Williams of Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Brenard (Raylene) Miller of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Mrs. Ellen Denise (Terence) Turner of Valdosta, Ga.; 14 grandchildren, Ronald Miller of Indianapolis, Indiana, Nashane Miller of Houston, TX, Michael R. Miller of San Antonio, TX, Fallon Miller, April Miller, Jason and Trey Miller, all of Houston, TX, Traci (Antonine Hamilton) Miller, Shanta Lloyd, Erica Dixon and Courtney Dixon, all of South Bend, Alice Williams of Chicago, IL., Bryant and Briana Turner of Valdosta, Ga.; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She also leaves to cherish her loving memory; two close sisters, Evangelist Ola Fay Jennings of South Bend and Mother Sarah Ann Talton of Hazelcrest, IL.; close and loving cousins, Evangelist Mother Connie Smith and Margaret Ann Miller; her armor bearer, Mother Veronica Peoples; her loving sons in the gospel, Evangelist Robert Johnson, Minister Gregory Daniel and Bishop James Bolden; a special loved-one, Mrs. Susan L. Miller; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and loved-ones; special friends, Sharon Lewis, Gloria Green and a special sister-in-law, Mrs. Suzie (Eddie) Wright; and especially her loving church family, Greater Wayside Church of God in Christ. She was preceded in death by her father, George Miller; her mother, Mrs. Addie Mae Miller; two brothers-in-law, Pastor Joseph A. Jennings and Mr. Polk H. Talton. She will be greatly missed, but always loved.
Services for Evangelist Brooks will be held at noon Wednesday, August 17 in Pentecostal Cathedral Church of God in Christ, South Bend. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Greater Wayside Church, 638 Goshen Avenue, Elkhart, Ind. Arrangements have been entrusted to Alford's Mortuary, South Bend.