Obituary of Emory X. Brooks

September 26, 1932 - November 25, 2023

Emory Xenophon Brooks passed away peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023 at Mt. Sinai Hospital Morningside, New York, NY, after a brief illness. He was 91.

Emory was born in San Angelo, TX, and raised in Shreveport, LA and Denton, TX. He inherited his talent and love of music from his father, the late Emory X. Brooks, Sr., becoming a professional saxophonist at age 15, and mastering a host of other instruments including piano, clarinet, and bass. From his mother, the late Ruby Thornton Sergeant, he acquired his great sense of humor and lifelong calling to help others.

He graduated from Prairie View A&M Univ. with a degree in Mathematics, and later served in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer. A licensed clinical social worker with a Master's in Social Work from Columbia Univ., he founded Community Counseling & Mediation in 1982 in response to the overwhelming problems facing NYC's poor, minority and disadvantaged children & families. CCM provides mental health services, child abuse prevention and supportive housing in some of Brooklyn’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. He was a member of Black Agency Executives and received numerous awards for his dedication and leadership in the field of mental health.

In addition to his parents, Emory was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Beverly B. Brooks, and sister Grace Jean Wilmer. He is survived by his children Douglas Brooks, Jennifer Brooks, and Thomas Brooks (Karen); sister Beverly D. Brooks; nieces Gwendolyn Hughes (Roy, Sr.), Patricia Blackshire, Sonya Wilmer, Alicia Adjetey; and nephew Cecile Adjetey, Jr.; his grandchildren Rachael Agwunobi (Scott Zapcic), Abigail and Seth Agwunobi, Gabriella, Nadia, Grayson and Benjamin Brooks, Zachary and Nicholas Simmons; two g-grandchildren, Ashton and Autumn; and great-nieces & nephews: Shaun, Chantia, Perry Jr., Lee Patrick, Jennifer, Roy Jr., Miranda and her children.

Emory left an indelible legacy that will continue on in his family, friends and life’s work at CCM.