James Lee Brooks

James lee Brooks, age 73, was born on April 3, 1950 in Mercer, Tennessee. He was the oldest child of three born to the union of the late Alfred Brooks and Emma Lee Cunningham- Brooks. James transitioned peacefully from this earthly realm on April 28, 2023.

James' father, Alfred Brooks relocated from Tennessee to Gary, Indiana with the family in the 1950's to work at USX Steel Mill. Gary, Indiana is where James resided for the remainder of the majority of his life. James was raised in the baptist faith. He attended a few churches over the years, one of them including his membership at Christian Valley Missionary Baptist Church.

After James graduated from Emerson High School in 1969, he was drafted into the United States Army. While stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, as a Sergeant, he met his first wife, Bertha Avington (Clayton). In 1973, James and Bertha were married in which one child came from this union. James relocated  back to Gary, Indiana after his honorable discharge and began working as a steelworker at LTV Steel for thirty plus years. In 2007, James married his second wife Rosie Lee Hawkins (Hogan) whom he was in courtship with for many years prior to their union.

In James' years of retirement, he enjoyed model car collecting, growing flowers, and other miscellaneous yard work, playing free virtual casino games on his computer, and reading his bible.

James was preceded in death by his wife, Rosie Lee Hawkins- Brooks; parents, Alfred and Emma Lee Brooks; brother, William Floyd Brooks aka "Brother"; sister, Peggy Lee Bradley.

Those left to cherish a lifetime of memories: his 3 children, Xavier James (Sheila) Brooks of Austin, Texas, April Denise Brooks of Gary, Indiana, and Jimekia Lenora Faulkner of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; niece, Lashawndra Nicole Bradley aka " Nikki", nephew, Eric Bradley; 3 step-daughters, Denise Kinnon (Larry), Jacqueline Thomas (Robert), Yolanda Morris (Derek); 6 step-sons, Andrew Dalton (Nikki), Depree Dalton (Naomi), Wendell Hogan, Marcus Dalton, Herman Hawkins, Demetrius Bankhead; 3 special step-grandchildren, Alona Love (Derrich), Diamond Morris, and DaJon Morris; 2 special step-grandchildren, A'Liegha Love and Derrich Love, Jr.; and a host of cousins, other step-grandchildren; step-great-grandchildren, and friends.

You are asked to please privately celebrate James' memory in your own way. He will be with all of us in spirit. Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.

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