Neddra L. Brooks

Neddra Lee Robinson was born to the late Fannie Lewis and Willie Robinson on December 18, 1940 in Newellton, Louisiana. She was the second oldest and the only daughter, with siblings Willie, Jr. “Bill”, Morris, and Leon. Neddra lost her father Willie “Man” when she was ten years old. She loved her father dearly and often shared how her father was kind and loved by everyone in town. When Neddra was a young girl she worked in the family ice cream parlor and helped her father in his various entrepreneurial enterprises. She also loved playing with her brothers, her dog Sham, and buddy and cousin James Kelly.
Fannie Robinson (mother) remarried a distinguished military veteran, Carey Crockett; known to all the grandchildren as “Granddaddy Carey.” Carey was injured in an automobile accident, which left him a paraplegic. Neddra took care of him and his affairs for the rest of his life, often traveling from Detroit to visit him at the Veterans Medical Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Neddra was always a forward thinker and valued education. She had a strong interest in science and wanted to attend a high school that could offer her more academically. At the age of fourteen she moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to live with her Aunt Mary and attend Capitol High School. At Capitol High School, Neddra or “Ned” (as called by close friends and family) excelled in both academics and athletics. She was consistently on the honor roll and earned recognition for athletic service as a member of the women’s basketball team. She was also a member of the student council, participated in drama, and maintained perfect attendance. In 1958, Neddra graduated from Capitol high school as class valedictorian.
After high school, she attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While at Southern, she majored in Biology with plans of going to medical school. During her time in college, the Civil Rights Movement was well underway and the nation was experiencing tumultuous times. Neddra did her part to fight for racial equality. She actively supported the movement and participated in several protest marches. As an undergraduate student, she conducted research and worked as a laboratory assistant in the Biology department under Dr. James Prestage. In addition, she became a proud member of the prestigious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Beta Psi Chapter. She graduated from Southern University in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biology.
Neddra came to Detroit, Michigan in fall 1962 to visit her brother Bill, his wife Myrtle, and their children. She loved spending time with her nieces, nephew, and sister in-law. Myrtle so loved Neddra; she named her second daughter after her. Thus, introducing the family to “little Neddra.” While attending a Christmas party, she met a dashing young man named George Brooks, a Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. member and Michigan State University student athlete. They fell in love and after a wonderful romantic courtship, George proposed. During their engagement, Neddra converted to Catholicism. George and Neddra were married on July 18, 1964. In January 1967, they welcomed their first child, daughter, Lillian Rene Brooks and in the “summer of ‘69”, son, Jason Robinson Brooks.
Neddra worked for Parke Davis and Company as an assistant researcher in the Virus Research department from 1962 to 1966. In 1967, she accepted a job as a research assistant at the Wayne State School of Medicine, Harper Hospital-E.M. Laboratory. She worked under Dr. Geoffrey Brinkman from 1967 to 1969. She co-authored several scientific research articles with Dr. Brinkman. In 1970, Neddra began working for Sinai Hospital in Detroit as a Laboratory Technician II under Dr. S. D. Kobernick, Director of Laboratory Medicine. As a Laboratory Technician, she furthered her knowledge and expertise in her field. In 1978, she earned certification as an Electron Microscopy Technologist in Biological Science from the Electron Microscopy Society of America. While at Sinai Hospital, Neddra contributed to her field by co-authoring six articles with Dr. Kobernick and Dr. Edna Elfont. Two of her publications were: Kobernick, S. D., Elfont, E. A., Brooks, N. L., A cytochemical study of G-6 phosphatase in cells participating in atherogenesis of rabbit aorta. Proceedings for Electron Microscopy Society of America, Las Vegas, NV, August, 1975; and Elfont, E., Brooks, N.L., Kobernick, S. D.: Early lesion formation in rabbit aorta-A cytochemical study of glucose-6phosphate (G-6-Pase) Micron, Vol. 7: 323-324, Pergamon Press, Great Britain, 1976. In addition, she provided technical assistance to eleven other published articles and completed several Master’s degree courses at Wayne State University.
Neddra was a vivacious person and very committed to helping and uplifting African Americans. George and Neddra were active in the Detroit Branch of the NAACP. In the 1970’s, as African Americans were beginning to vie for political and professional positions in Detroit, they worked tirelessly to get African American politicians and judges elected to office. As Vice President of the NAACP Sip-In Committee, the committee set records for raising money for the organization and the NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner, which is the largest annual indoor fundraising dinner in the nation. As a life member of the NAACP, Neddra had the opportunity to meet great African Americans, such as Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Bill Cosby, and Emanuel Stewart, and many others.
Neddra was dedicated to her children and all their endeavors. She always sought to enhance their life experiences and education. She took active roles in all of the organizations and activities in which Rene and Jason were involved. She served as Vice President of the Gesu School Parent Organization (1981-82) and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Proposal Committee Chairperson (1981-82). She also took her children to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra youth concerts on Saturday mornings and encouraged them take piano lessons and play in the Gesu School band.
Neddra, “Auntie Ned” or “Aunt Neddra,” was very generous toward her nieces, nephews, and family members. She would take them to movies, parties, and made sure everyone got a Christmas present. Ned loved to entertain friends and family each year on New Year’s Day. Her signature dishes, lasagna, and ribs (it was the sauce) were served with black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread (You can take a girl out of the south but you can’t take the south out the girl!). George and Neddra also enjoyed good times with friends and family at their home “up north” at the Lakes of the North Resort Community outside Gaylord, Michigan.
Neddra L. Brooks was a phenomenal women, daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, cousin, Soror, friend, and activist. She was caring, fun, loving, strong, opinionated, stylish, and beautiful. She overcame many health obstacles over the years, beating cancer in 1992, and surviving a stroke in 2001. She never complained, felt sorry, or depressed, and maintained strong faith in God. She continued to engage and interact with friends and family until her untimely death.
Neddra leaves behind her husband of 50 years, George F. Brooks, and her two children: Dr. Lillian R. Brooks and Dr. Jason R. Brooks; beloved cousins and relatives James Kelly, Abe Keyes, Mary Lagarde Ampey; sister-in-laws Alice Robinson (Morris), Thelma Robinson (Leon), Agnes Whitfield, and Linda Brooks Cooper; brother-in-law Harold Brooks, and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews who she truly treasured.