Amanda Mae Helen "Miss Bill" Brooks

On November 9, 1918, the Lord decided that it was time for another baby girl to enter His world. This time, it was to be Amanda Mae Helen Eason. Her entrance made a lasting impact on all of those around her. First, she refused to cry out loudly as we expect all newborn babies to do when they are first born. I am told that all she did was whimper, no loud crying out. She was also born with a veil over her face. This little baby was the fifth and final child born to Luther Warren and Amanda Clifton Eason in the Mt. Morriah Community of Arkadelphia, Arkansas. They were the parents of four girls and one boy. As I understand, this veil over her face was an indication of her being somewhat different. Now THAT I believe! She was the most different of all the girls. Life was a lot different then than it is now. Their mother had passed and their father was sick. He told Maggie, the oldest child what to do when he died. He told her to take the other children and go to his mother’s place and live with her. He had Maggie to promise that she would honor his request. He also told her that if the man she married would not take Amanda Mae Helen and treat her as he would his sister, she should not marry him. Maggie promised that she would do just as he asked. This was a terrible time of their lives living with “Gran”. One day a kitten was lying in front of the fireplace and “Gran” took a walking cane and hit the kitten in the head killing it. She told Amanda Mae Helen that she was going to do that to her one day. Now, life moved on and into her teen-age years. Amanda was trying to adjust to different kinds of friends and a set of people, not family, just people in general. She met and married Charlie Todd Williams at the age of seventeen. Big mistake! He thought he was as cute as she was. A baby girl was born into this union and she was still born. Neither parent was mature enough to handle such a shock. They divorced a short time afterwards. She lived a life of fun and games for many years, living her life her way. One day she met and a guy by the name of Bobby Joe Brooks. They were married and the fun continued. But things still were not right. She and Bobby Joe met a little girl by the name of Gwendolyn Brooks when she was only 22 months old. She needed a home and parents to care for her. They thought they could solve the problem, but they couldn’t. This child didn’t solve their problems either. Bobby Joe walked away, leaving this little girl, but he did ask her which of them did she want to live with and Gwendolyn chose Amanda Mae Helen. She single handedly raised Gwendolyn and made many scarifies to nurture, love and care for her. After this period of disappointments Amanda Mae Helen dedicated her life to God and found peace and happiness. She was a member of St. Ruth Baptist Church. She became active in the church’s affairs, she used her strong alto voice in the choir and became active in other activities of the church such as Mid-Week services. She was active in the community having worked for several years at the Children’s Colony, now the Arkadelphia Human Development Center and she worked her last thirteen years as a Foster Grandparent with the Foster Grandparent program of the Arkadelphia Public School District. She was a member of the Universal Evergreen Verbena OES #192, Gum Springs, Arkansas and she actually “worked” with this group of ladies until she was unable to move about on her own. She enjoyed cooking and was an “outdoorswoman” it was rare to find a woman who loved fish and HUNT! Family was everything to her and she both gave and received loved accordingly. “Miss Bill”, as she was lovingly called modeled a forward and independent disposition. She remained a shining example of humility and respect. How can she ever be forgotten when so much of her lives in those that she has enriched along life’s journey. On Saturday, September 27, 2014 she passed peacefully. Her passing reminds us that life is uncertain, but death is sure. She will be remembered by her daughter, Gwendolyn Henderson; her grandchildren, Britt Buckley, Brandy Moore and Constance Henderson; her great-grandchildren De’Marco, De’Angelo Buckley and De’Anna Buckley; her niece, Leva Middleton and nephew, Joe Middleton; a great-nephew, Rodney Middleton; and her special friends, Addie McCauley, Junie Calloway and Bobby Pratt. The synopsis of the life of Amanda Mae Helen Brooks inspired by Mrs. Leva Middleton, niece. Public visitation will be Friday, October 3, 2014 from 12 noon until 5pm. Home going service will be shared on Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 11 m at St. Ruth Baptist Church. Rev. Charlie Thomas, eulogist and Rev. Thomas Hale will officiate. Interment will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.