Emmett Brooks, Jr.

Emmett Brooks, Jr. was born on September 18, 1942, in Birmingham, Alabama, the eldest child of the late Emmett Brooks and Annie M. Beard. The family relocated to Albany, New York when Emmett was a young boy, where they settled in North Albany. He joined Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and never changed his membership. 

 Emmett graduated from Albany High School and Hudson Valley Community College. While in school he caddied at the Wolfert’s Roost Country Club while simultaneously excelling in     basketball and baseball, so much so, he was offered a position with the New York Mets Minor League. However, he decided to decline due to discrimination practices during that era. 

 Emmett was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served honorably. He worked for WTC Air Freight, Railroad Express and retired from New Penn Trucking Company of Pennsylvania as a salesman.

He was a Committee Man for Albany County, he and his partner, Isaac Cancer, Sr., ran the State Lounge. Emmett and his late brother-in-law, George Woodard, ran the Northside Recreation Center for the youth. Emmett was one of the last five members of the Men’s Esquire Club of Albany. He was also a landlord, a golfer and an entrepreneur at heart, as well as an avid world traveler. Emmett was also a member of the Fellas Men’s Group, where he was a brother, friend, uncle and true inspiration. 

 Emmett loved his flowers, but most of all, he enjoyed mentoring young men throughout his life’s journey, especially his nephews. He was often asked to speak in group settings, and his favorite saying was, “I could get more accomplished, one on one and it became many”. 

 Emmett was predeceased by his father Emmett Brooks, his mother Annie M. Brooks-Downs, stepfather Timothy Downs, first wife Lana Brooks, his son Brian Brooks, and his brother      Ronnie Brooks.

Emmett will be forever cherished by his loving wife, friend and confidant, Gladys Walker-Brooks; his son Barry Brooks and daughter Jillian (Nikia) Simmons, daughters Yolanda, Ena and Carnella Walker, as well as his grandchildren, Stephanie and Brian Brooks, III, Alianna Simmons, Kevin (Vanessa) Brown, Keenan Hesterbey, Ronald Jr. and Alex Simmons, Kymir Walker, Jayla Cooper and his seven great grandchildren; siblings: Marvin Brooks, Janice Woodard and Wanda Peters and in-laws: Geraldine (Willie) James, George Allen, Jr., Allene Brooks, the late George Woodard.

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