Ella Brooks Obituary

Ella Brooks, 95, passed away on March 14, 2025 of natural causes. A celebration of life service will be held on May 22, 2025 at 2:00 pm in the First Baptist Church Chapel of Gainesville, Georgia. Visitation will follow the service in the church's parlor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to honor Ella may be made to the Ministry of Caring or the Music Ministry of the First Baptist Church, 751 Green Street, NW, Gainesville, GA 30501.

Born in Tallassee, Alabama, Ella was the daughter of Edgar Earl Romine and Lanta Bryant Romine. She met her husband of 66 years, Gene Brooks, while a student at Auburn University. After marriage, Ella accompanied Gene as he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas. She was a dedicated pastor's wife throughout Gene's years of ministry. At age 40, Ella went back to college earning undergraduate and masters degrees at Georgia Southern University in preparation for teaching high school students.

The passion that Ella felt about her faith was exhibited through years of teaching Sunday School beginning at age 17. She taught Sunday School and was the Girls Auxiliary Director at the First Baptist Church of Soperton, Georgia. She was the teacher of the Winsome Sunday School Class at the First Baptist Church of Gainesville for 25 years.

Ella also contributed her teaching skills in the areas of Physics and Earth Science to Georgia high school students in Treutlen, Hall, and Richmond counties. In 1979 and in 1986 she was chosen as Star Teacher. After retirement she taught classes in the BULLI program of Brenau University and was active in the Georgia Association of Retired Educators.

Throughout her life, Ella enjoyed swimming, teaching swimming lessons, playing Bridge, playing the piano, sewing, gardening, cooking, and singing. She sang with the Vidalia Chorale and the Gainesville Chorale. The Sanctuary Choir of the First Baptist Church Gainesville was very special to her and she was thankful to be able to sing with them for 23 years.

Ella is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and brother, Edgar Earl Romine, Jr. Survivors include three daughters, Ruth Hall(Tom) of Gainesville, Lois Brooks of Gainesville, and Rebekah Brooks of Seattle, Washington and two grandchildren, Arendje Louter (Conor Courtney) of London,
England and Mara Louter of Bellingham, Washington.