Sarah Louise Brooks

Sarah Louise Brooks Our Sweetheart Sarah was born on July 5,1944 to Alice Louise Falls and Ira Bernard Butler in Bloomington, Illinois. She was the eldest daughter of their union and has three siblings, one brother, Walter Leroy Butler of Southfield Michigan and two sisters, Susan Louise Quinn of Oakland California and Sharon Ann Butler of Los Angeles California. Sarah attended William Beaumont High school in St. Louis Missouri and Normal College. She went on to attend Southern Illinois University (SIU), in Carbondale Illinois. She was an intelligent and focused student who understood the need to quickly complete her studies as her younger siblings were following her lead. At SIU, Sarah met the young man who was to be her husband for nearly 60 years, Arkles C. Brooks Jr. They loved to dance and spend time taking walks on campus. After a beautiful courtship, Sarah and Arkles were married on August 8,1966. At SIU Sarah studied Education and became a teacher, with a specialty in Speech Pathology. Upon graduation she and Arkles began working and eventually settled in Detroit to further their life and careers together. Sarah elected to teach in the Detroit Public schools where she was able to help many children. She gave them the confidence and tools to articulate their thoughts and feelings, and to learn and grow in a safe healthy environment. She worked at multiple schools including Lillibridge Elementary and Angel Primary on Detroit's West Side and would travel between schools throughout the day to meet with and care for her students. As she traveled, she would often stop for a quick visit/lunch with her Mother-in-Love Ruth Brooks or one of her favorite Aunts Hazel Dawson before continuing to her next school. She was active in the Detroit Federation of Teachers (Union) and was proud to sport her "I walked the line in '79 tee shirt" when she was part of the teachers strike. She contributed to Detroit Public Schools for 31 years before deciding to retire. After SIU, Sarah began her master's degree in Speech Pathology, however she stopped her educational pursuit to focus on her career and to raise her children. She loved teaching at school, at her church, and in her home. She was a phenomenal woman, Wife, First Lady, and Mother. When her husband was "called" to the ministry, Sarah knew that God was not calling just one, God was calling them both. During her life of service, Sarah was a member at Gospel Chapel Church of Detroit, an active choir member, and President of the Gospel Chapel Ladies Auxiliary, a position she held for over ten years. She led the ladies with elegance, grace, humor, and patience. She always had a twinkle in her eye and a ready smile. She, along with several other sisters at Gospel Chapel including Marsha Glenn, Barbara Philyaw, Faye Johnson, Kaye Johson, Carolyn (Mack) Boikai, Cheryl Johnson, Lavern Brooks, Ernestine Bowen, Connie Horton, Rosie Wright, Geraldine Oden, Harriet Booker, Janice Fitzhugh created and supported a new Ladies Auxiliary which upheld the values of the Mothers of the church while infusing fresh life and energy into their work for the Lord. Under Sarah's inclusive leadership style, they were able to reach souls for the Lord while setting a stellar example for the young women coming behind them. Sarah shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone who was in her presence. She would often ask new friends (her eyes wide and unassuming) with a sweet smile, "…are you a Christian, do you know the Lord? It's easy to know Him." Her way was so kind, clear and focused that even the hardest hearts had to consider her words. She and the ladies faced several challenges while in leadership but took those challenges in stride preferring to focus on making everyone feel included, appreciated, valued, and loved. Under her leadership, the Ladies Auxiliary flourished, partnering with other powerful women leaders within the United Assemblies of Detroit (UAD) to conduct skill training, leadership workshops, celebrations, provide dinners, support the United Conference for Women, and visit those who were widowed, or sick and shut in. Locally at Gospel Chapel, the women conducted workshops on Etiquette, Godly Living and held Women's Bible Study. She attended and managed the communication boards for the UAD Youth Winter Retreat and collaborated with her Sister-in-Love Lavern Brooks to lead the arts and craft activities for Vacation Bible School annually. She was a quiet force that helped the community with programs and events such as the Ladies' Tea with silent auction, free-clothing drives, and prayer circles (to name a few). Sarah was our Matriarch. She taught us so many beautiful things. She enjoyed sewing and made the veil for her Sister-in-love Marsha's wedding. She enjoyed loading up the kids (nieces and nephews included) and taking them to the beach and to museums, plays, and to hear music at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO). It was important that her children be well rounded. She ensured the children had piano lessons, swimming lessons (as a youth she was a lifeguard), and she introduced them to poetry and the arts early on. She was an avid reader and would read or sing them to sleep each night, often acting out the stories in books such as "Where the Wild Things Are," "Heidi," and "The Velveteen Rabit." She would sing lullaby's, give tickles & kisses then sing more. She incorporated "camp songs" (on the good ship lollypop and others from her time as a girl scout) and read a poetry from "Where the Sidewalk Ends." She took the kids to see shows such as the "Alvin Ailey Dancers" and "The Wiz" at the Masonic temple or Fisher Theatre, to listen to Chamber music at the DSO, to see "Cats" at the Detroit Opera house, and to the Jackson 5 "Victory Tour" at the Pontiac Silver Dome. Her actions instilled a love of the arts and all things creative in her children inspiring them to express themselves creatively (welding, Ira), writing (Arkles, Alice, Sharon), performing (Arkles, Alice, Sharon), and even obtaining an undergraduate degree in performing arts performing at the collegiate level and professionally (Sharon). As she aged, that love of the arts (and movies) continued as her children and grandchildren came to sit at her bedside and watch musicals with her such as "The Wiz", "The Sound of Music", "The Blues Brothers" and "The Five Heartbeats". They danced and sang for her to provide entertainment when she could not dance for herself. Her favorite movie was "Coming to America." She obtained a physical plant each time a grandchild was born and just like her physical plants, she watered and nurtured her natural grandchildren to grow and bear good fruit, beautiful flowers, and stay deeply rooted in the foundation she provided. Sarah understood the importance of quality family time. She enjoyed traveling with her family to visit her mother, sisters, nieces and nephew in Oakland California and Los Angeles. At home in Michigan, Sarah enjoyed going to the movies often (after choir rehearsal) with her daughters and Cheryl & Karen. She loved shopping at Hudson's, trying on "church" hats, making fried apples, fried tomatoes, eating liver and onions and spending time with her grandchildren and family. During her summers she also traveled to the Cayman Islands with her husband and children. She loved spending time with her husband, family and close friends including Mary & Kenny, Odessa, Hermosine, and others. She was also delighted to spend time with her Brother Leroy and his wife Emily and enjoyed their kind and loving presence later in her life. Sarah was an avid reader and one of her favorite past times was collecting elephants. Her favorite animal was the elephant. She collected them everywhere she would go, and she enjoyed having them as gifts and buying them herself. The elephant represents royalty, loyalty, strength, and wisdom. For her it reflected deep connections and high intelligence. Spiritually they represent healing and endurance. In Indian culture they represent fertility and abundance. Sarah also represented these things. Her life was abundantly full, and even more so because she valued and appreciated what she had. Her gratitude inspired the family to face challenges and never give up. When she met an obstacle, she thought of a solution and went into action. When her daughter was attending Groves High School, their auditorium lacked access for those in carts or wheelchairs. Sarah sprang into action, meeting with the school to ensure they made the facility accessible so she could attend the basketball games and cheer for her daughter. Sarah did not miss a game; the school built a permanent structure that helped her and others. Sarah's smile was beautiful, her laugh was infectious, her heart was a well, and her endurance plentiful. She was a believer in Christ Jesus and her healing has come in him. Sarah was the First lady of Gospel Chapel Church for over 30 years. She was wise, strong, savvy, and loyal. She was deeply intelligent and cunning. She liked to play card games and could beat you without talking a lot. She just knew. She was always the first lady and the best lady. She is unmatched and we love her, and she will always be our Sweetheart. Dear Sarah, rest in peace and elevation with God and Buzzy, Grandma Alice, Ulysses, Ginney, and all those who have gone before you. We salute you and we will always love you. Sarah and Arkles bore four children, Arkles (Laini Atkins) C. Brooks III (Deceased), Ira David Brooks, Alice Ruth Brooks-Burks (Alan Burks), and Sharon Louise Heath (Brian Heath). She leaves a legacy beyond her children of 17 grandchildren, I'jazz Sulaiman Brooks, Yusef Mahlayeen Brooks, Layla Sara Imana Brooks, Aaliyah Jacquelyn Rose Brooks, Adon Gabriel Brooks, Moses Malik McClair, Caleb Arkles Brooks; Demarquine Dupree Martin, Ira David Brooks-Martin, Arielle Domonique Brooks-Martin, Samson Daniel Brooks; Sara Alisha Lasha Brooks; Jailyn Alexis-Charise Burks, Christopher Alan-Clarence Burks, Ethan Alan-Christian Burks; Judah Brian Comer Heath and Valla Brielle Evelyn Alma Alice Heath 5 great-grandchildren, Zyair DeShawn Martin, Immanuel Arrow Brooks, Makai Noel Bryant, Quandjarrius Shunritytyhians Jackson Jr., Egypt Journey McCoy and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, loving church members, family, and friends. A Visitation for Sarah will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Wm. Sullivan and Son Funeral Directors, 705 W. Eleven Mile Rd. (4 blks. E. of Woodward), Royal Oak, 48067. A Funeral Service for Sarah will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 12:00 pm at the funeral home. Sarah will be laid to rest at Trinity Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. Please share a memory at www.SullivanFuneralDirectors.com

Sarah Louise Brooks

July 5, 1944 - August 19, 2025