Educator, civil rights advocate, and a valued member of this community’s brain trust, Mr Rufus Brooks died early this morning.
We have no details to share at this time, but an email authored by NAACP head Kran Riley paid tribute to the life of this great and remarkable man.
Brooks had been ill for some time, causing him to withdraw from his regular attendance at community meetings he routinely participated in, particularly those of the NAACP and Orange County Voters League.
Brooks entered Bethune-Cookman University, but left to serve his country as a soldier in the Korean War. He completed his studies at Florida A&M and later began a career path that would culminate in his serving as principal of Eccleston, Hungerford and Phyllis Wheatley elementary schools over the span of 30 years.
He will be remembered by those who knew him as a man of great passion, character and integrity.
UPDATE:  Servicesfor Mr. Brooks will be held on Friday at 11 AM at Friday at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 412 E. Kennedy Boulevard in Eatonville.
