Geneva Brooks

Geneva "GiGi" or "Mother Brooks" Houston Brooks was born on August 28, 1938, in Clarendon, Arkansas, to Booker Taliaferro Houston and Marie Thomas Houston. She was the first daughter of this union and the second child. She has one sister and three brothers. GiGi graduated from George Washington Carver Public School in Clarendon, Arkansas. She began her post-secondary at St. Phillips College in San Antonio, Texas, followed by Arkansas AM&N in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and lastly at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana, where she studied Elementary Education.

GiGi taught third grade at George Washington Carver Elementary School in Clarendon, Arkansas from 1959 to 1964. During this time, a former school mate came into her life and love was in the air. Floyd Lee Brooks and Geneva were married on June 2, 1963. After marriage, she moved to Hammond, Indiana, and her twin daughters, Denise and Diann Brooks were born from this union on June 6, 1964, at St. Catherine's Hospital in East Chicago, Indiana. Upon arriving to Indiana, GiGi was gainfully employed by the United States Postal Service in Gary, Indiana and Hammond, Indiana for 30 years until she retired in 1993 to fulfill her most rewarding job of a fulltime grandmother. GiGi, or Mother Brooks as so many loved to call her, made Embassies of Christ her church home in 1994, and took pride in the ministries she served on: Senior Bible Study, Senior Dance, and Cupbearers. Mother Brooks also volunteered as much as possible at Ambassador Christian Academy as a Teacher's classroom aide.

GiGi loved her daughters, but the love she had for her grandchildren was on a different level !  Denise married Lawrence Oliver, II, on September 6, 1986, and from this union three children were born, Lauren Oliver Carter, Lawrence Oliver, III, and David Oliver. Diann married Fred Sims, Jr., on June 3, 1989, and from this union two children were born, Arlen and Armen Sims.

GiGi transitioned to be with the Lord on May 11, 2023, at the age of 84.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Booker T. Houston, Sr. and Marie Thomas Houston; her brother, Booker T. Houston, Jr., and 2 half sisters, Emma Lou Clarke of Flint, Michigan and Melvin Houston of Macon, Georgia.

GiGi is survived by her loving and devoted daughters, Denise (Lawrence, II) Oliver of Orland Park, Illinois, and Diann (Fred) Sims, Jr. of Merrillville, Indiana; her sister, Linda Houston of Houston, Texas; 2 brothers, Lynn (Danette) Houston of Houston, Texas and Harold (Charlotte) Houston of Clarendon, Arkansas; granddaughter, Lauren Oliver (Bradley) Carter of Merrillville, Indiana, grandson, Lawrence (Gina) Oliver, III of Orland Park, Illinois, grandson, Arlen Sims of Houston, Texas, granddaughter, Armen Sims of Crown Point, Indiana, grandson, David Oliver of Miami, Florida; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, special friends, and embassies of Christ family.

Visitation Friday, May 26, 2023, 10:00 a.m.-11;00 a.m. with Homegoing Services 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. from Embassies of Christ Church 4825 Cleveland Street Gary, Indiana. Interment Elmwood Cemetery Hammond, Indiana.

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