Lavinia R. Brooks

Lavinia Richbow Brooks was born Nov. 6, 1928, in Horatio, to the late Bill Peggy Richbow and Essie Ellington Richbow. She departed this life on Monday, March 25, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Lavinia was educated at Willow Grove School and graduated from Westbury School. She accepted Christ at an early age and attended Willow Grove AME Church. After marriage, she became a member of Rafting Creek Baptist Church and St. Michael AME Church. She retired from Sumter School District 17. She was married to the late Albert Brooks Sr.

She leaves to cherish her memories: nine children, Essie Mae Blanding, Albert (Mattie) Brooks Jr., Calvin Peggy (Mosetta) Brooks, Theresa Balls, Shelly Brooks (John) Gadson, Jerline (Leroy) Holmes, Susan Lavinia (Tennie) Richburg, Sarah Earline (Charles) Howard and Timothy Rubin Brooks, all of Sumter; a very special grandson, Philip Napoleon Brooks of Charleston; a special niece, Anna Louise (Godfrey) Davis of New York, N.Y.; one brother-in-law, James Brooks; three sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Grant of Newport News, Va., and Rosa Lee Brooks and Elouise Brooks of Sumter; one aunt, Bernice Dinkins of Rembert; 40 grandchildren; 61 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Public viewing will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. today at Job’s Mortuary.

Mrs. Brooks will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. Friday for viewing until the hour of service.

Funeral service will be held at noon Friday at Rafting Creek Baptist Church, 3680 S.C. 261 North, Rembert, with Pastor Melvin Mack officiating, assisted by the Rev. Sharon Boyd. Interment will follow in the Rafting Creek Church Cemetery.

The family is receiving friends at 4980 Cane Savannah Road, Wedgefield.

Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary.net.