Obituary for MARK EDWIN BROOKS
Mark E. Brooks, 74, of Marquette, humbly entered eternal life Sunday afternoon, August 28, 2022 at UP Health System in Marquette.
Mark, a vibrant soul, entered this life on May 29, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan. He was born to Arkles C. and Ruth (Chappell) Brooks, Sr. He attended Marxhausen Elementary, Foch Junior High and graduated from Southeastern High School.
In the Detroit area, Mark worked for Chrysler, the Board of Education and the City of Detroit. In Marquette, Mark used his great ability to relate to others and to improve their self-esteem in various other forms of employment. He worked at Taystee Bakery, as the UP’s Job Corps recruiter, at Gwinn Middle School and for Teaching Family Homes of Upper Michigan.
Many friends, outings and stories centered around Mark’s favorite pastime of fishing. His hilarious stories delighted all. From a young age, Mark also vigorously enjoyed singing. As the youngest of the family, his pastor/musician father, his organist mother, piano playing sister and pastor/musician brother all fostered this love. Mark excelled as a Christian music soloist and as a vocalist in the gospel quartet, Men Singing Gospel. Mark was an evangelist at heart. Some highlights of his life include assisting the proprietor at the Detroit Rescue Mission, working as an anger management and substance abuse counselor, leading a team of volunteer workers at the Gaastra Mission Bible Training Center for many years, acting in the play, Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames, several years in a row, and working in prison ministry for over 20 years. Mark truly cared about others, encouraged them and was an advocate for their success.
With loving memories of laughter and words to ‘carry on,’ Mark leaves to mourn: his wife, Cynthia (Taylor) Brooks; his siblings: Arkles C. Brooks, Jr. (Sarah) and Marsha (Brooks) Glenn, both of Detroit; his children: Carl Black (CaTonya) of Detroit, Rayshawn Cotton (LaShonda) of Texas, Minetta Brooks (Tony) of Detroit, Mark Brooks, Jr. (Laurie) of Green Bay, Aaron Faulkner (Heather) of Oneida, WI, Eric Faulkner (Emily) of Traverse City, and Dakota Edmiston of Traverse City; his 19 grandchildren: Sky’e, Ashley, Carl Jr., Patricia, Jewel, S’Jamin, Diamond, Sade, Harmony, Kennedy, Hudson, Isaiah, Hallia, Jeremiah, Malachi, Mekhi, Lydia, Caleb and Eliza; his seven great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Mark was preceded in death by his highly cherished parents.
Visitation will be held at New Life Church from 10:00 am until the time of funeral services at 1:00 pm on Saturday, September 3rd. A luncheon will be held in the church hall immediately following. Burial will take place at Trinity Cemetery in Detroit.
Mark’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com
Mark, a vibrant soul, entered this life on May 29, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan. He was born to Arkles C. and Ruth (Chappell) Brooks, Sr. He attended Marxhausen Elementary, Foch Junior High and graduated from Southeastern High School.
In the Detroit area, Mark worked for Chrysler, the Board of Education and the City of Detroit. In Marquette, Mark used his great ability to relate to others and to improve their self-esteem in various other forms of employment. He worked at Taystee Bakery, as the UP’s Job Corps recruiter, at Gwinn Middle School and for Teaching Family Homes of Upper Michigan.
Many friends, outings and stories centered around Mark’s favorite pastime of fishing. His hilarious stories delighted all. From a young age, Mark also vigorously enjoyed singing. As the youngest of the family, his pastor/musician father, his organist mother, piano playing sister and pastor/musician brother all fostered this love. Mark excelled as a Christian music soloist and as a vocalist in the gospel quartet, Men Singing Gospel. Mark was an evangelist at heart. Some highlights of his life include assisting the proprietor at the Detroit Rescue Mission, working as an anger management and substance abuse counselor, leading a team of volunteer workers at the Gaastra Mission Bible Training Center for many years, acting in the play, Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames, several years in a row, and working in prison ministry for over 20 years. Mark truly cared about others, encouraged them and was an advocate for their success.
With loving memories of laughter and words to ‘carry on,’ Mark leaves to mourn: his wife, Cynthia (Taylor) Brooks; his siblings: Arkles C. Brooks, Jr. (Sarah) and Marsha (Brooks) Glenn, both of Detroit; his children: Carl Black (CaTonya) of Detroit, Rayshawn Cotton (LaShonda) of Texas, Minetta Brooks (Tony) of Detroit, Mark Brooks, Jr. (Laurie) of Green Bay, Aaron Faulkner (Heather) of Oneida, WI, Eric Faulkner (Emily) of Traverse City, and Dakota Edmiston of Traverse City; his 19 grandchildren: Sky’e, Ashley, Carl Jr., Patricia, Jewel, S’Jamin, Diamond, Sade, Harmony, Kennedy, Hudson, Isaiah, Hallia, Jeremiah, Malachi, Mekhi, Lydia, Caleb and Eliza; his seven great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Mark was preceded in death by his highly cherished parents.
Visitation will be held at New Life Church from 10:00 am until the time of funeral services at 1:00 pm on Saturday, September 3rd. A luncheon will be held in the church hall immediately following. Burial will take place at Trinity Cemetery in Detroit.
Mark’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com