Bishop Henson F. Brooks Sr., 81

MAGNOLIA - Bishop Henson F. Brooks Sr. of Magnolia passed away Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 81.

Bishop Brooks was born April 30, 1925, in Dover, son of the late John and Lydia Brooks.

He was educated in the public school system in Maryland.

Bishop Brooks later enlisted in the U.S. Army and faithfully served his country until he was honorably discharged.

He retired as a crew chief from Dover Air Force Base civil service after 30 years of service.

After receiving Christ as his personal Savior, Bishop Brooks united with the Solid Rock Baptist Church, where the pastor was the Rev. Wesley Brooks. He faithfully served as trustee and a deacon under the pastoral care of the Rev. Wesley Brooks. He was later called to the Gospel Ministry and served as an assistant pastor under the leadership of the Rev. Wesley Brooks. Upon accepting his call to the Gospel Ministry, Bishop Brooks attended Bolden Seminary Inc. in Wilmington.

He accepted the call of pastor for Weeping Mary Full Gospel Baptist Church in 1973. Under Bishop Brooks" leadership, Weeping Mary Baptist Church birthed 26 members of the clergy. During this time of his pastoralship, he was appointed moderator of the Union Baptist Association of Maryland and Delaware. He also served as district overseer of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship of Delaware and Maryland. After faithfully serving as pastor of Weeping Mary F.G.B.C. for 25 years, Bishop Brooks resigned and was consecrated a bishop.

Bishop Brooks was a man after God"s own heart. He was a great husband, father, grandfather, spiritual leader and advisor. He loved working with people and assisted them in any way possible. Bishop Brooks" guiding philosophies were "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 and "Follow me as I follow Christ." I Cor. 11:1.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, John Wesley Brooks and Foster Brooks; and three sisters, Helen Rodgers, Consuella White and Bernis Gray.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Josephine Brooks; four sons and four daughters-in-law, Henson F. Jr. and Juanita Brooks of Felton, the Revs. John and Charlotte Brooks of Dover, Minister Charles and Dynette Brooks of Magnolia and Gary and Donna Brooks of Daytona Beach, Fla.; two daughters and a son-in-law, Cynthia Nixon of Virginia Beach and Valerie and Ronald Comer of Camden; a brother and a sister-in-law, Lawrence and Joyce Brooks of Middletown; two sisters, Geraldine Brown of Newark and Bernice Dickerson of Smyrna; a sister-in-law and her husband, Irene and Harry Turner of Dover; a brother-in-law and his wife, Ernest and the Rev. Jean Sudler of Dover; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Weeping Mary Full Gospel Baptist Church, Shabox Road, Salisbury, Md.

Friends may also call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.

Services will be noon Saturday in Union Missionary Baptist Church, Dover, where friends may call two hours earlier.

Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Dover.