Billie Jo Brooks

Billie Jo “Cookie” Brooks, the second of three children of James Garfield Brooks and Raye Bennetta Pugh Brooks, was born on July 8, 1950, in Donalsonville, Georgia. The family migrated to Washington, DC when the children were toddlers.

Cookie was educated in the secondary schools of Washington, DC, and graduated from Eastern High School. She attended Federal City College which is now UDC. She was employed at Catholic University in Food Services for over 50 years she had an excellent work ethic and received numerous awards for her dedication and performance excellence. She also met the love of her life, Eltora “Mann” Minor while working at Catholic University. Their devoted love story extends more than 39 years.

Cookie was known by her family, friends, and coworkers for having a big heart and a caring spirit. She especially doted over her nieces and nephews like they were her own children. She took time to personalize their holiday gifts and baked their favorite brownies. A true animal lover, she adopted several cats and dogs throughout her lifetime and treated her "fur babies” as members of the family.

She was an excellent cook, and her family and friends often requested her specialty dishes, such as her pineapple jelly cake and her gravy smothered liver and onions.

Listening to music was one of her favorite pastimes. She had an extensive music collection and loved Motown and Chuck Brown. She also had a beautiful singing voice. She spent time harmonizing with her mom, brother and sister, but was too introverted to sing publicly. Cookie had an enthusiastic sense of humor! She was witty with a quick snap-back and could “play the dozens” with the best of them. Cookie was strong-willed and a fighter who advocated for her health and valiantly fought an extended illness until God called her home to rest. She departed her earthly home for her Heavenly home on April 27, 2023.

She was preceded in death by her parents: James Garfield Brooks and Raye Bennetta Pugh Brooks.

She is survived by a devoted brother, John L. Brooks of Alexandria, VA and his wife Joyce Myrick Brooks; a beloved sister: Carl “Peaches” Brooks Jenkins of Upper Marlboro, MD and her husband Garfield Jenkins; companion Eltora “Mann” Minor, Jr., of Washington, DC; sister-in-law: Sheila Foster Brooks of Upper Marlboro, MD; nieces, nephews, cousins, a host of other relatives and friends.

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