Zettie Marie Brooks

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:17, 20-21 It is written that when life begins, it is like an open book with many blank pages. Each day as we live our deeds are recorded page by page until we close our eyes in death and await that great getting up morning. The pages of this book began for Zettie Marie Turner in Sparkman, Arkansas, on December 8, 1934. She was born to Velma Turner and Wylie Matlock. Nurtured in a Christian environment, Mother Brooks was introduced to the life and standards of Holiness in the Church of God in Christ and was saved under the leadership of the late Elder Leo Williams and also serving under Paul Williams at Williams Temple COGIC in Sparkman. She married the late Wilbert Selders and one son was born to this union. They later moved to Baton Rouge, LA, where she became a steward under the late Elder Utah Smith and labored for over 50 years in the church. She later married the late Randolph "Whiz" Brooks and moved to Nashville where she became a faithful member of Williams Memorial COGIC where she served dutifully as church mother, former hospitality president and former member of the Voices of Praise. Her favorite hymn was “Glory to His Name”. She was also a member of the Southwest Arkansas Dialysis Support Group. She was a well known and loved woman of God and a resident of the Nashville Community. She was a wonderful cook working at the Golden Age Nursing Home for many years and other domestic jobs throughout the years. Mother Brooks was a God fearing, and loving woman whose smile touched the hearts of many. She was very caring woman and never met a stranger. Mother Brooks was known as the area “babysitter " who kept not only black children, but white children as well. When it came down to love Mother Brooks saw no color. The final page of this earthly life was written on Sunday morning March 8, 2009 when Mother Brooks in her 74th season, she answered the call that no man can refuse and passed from this world of time into eternity at the Arkansas Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Texarkana, Arkansas. Those awaiting her arrival and to welcome her home are her husband Randolph Brooks, her parents, step-mother Bessie Matlock and two sisters, Betty Lou Dickerson, Eloise Williams and two brothers Lewis E. Walker and Charles Gordon. She leaves in God’s care, a loving and devoted son,Elder Frank Selders and his wife Karen of Hope, AR; four grandchildren, Brian Kelly and his wife Tandra of Nashville, AR, Kevin Selders and his fiancé Richetta of Conway, AR, Krystal Selders of North Little Rock, AR, and Brandon Selders of Hampton, AR; and nine great-grandchildren. She also leaves six sisters, Bobbie Daily of Princeton, AR, Emma Perry of Milwaukee, WI, Betty (Kenneth) Owens of Carthage, AR, JoAnn Matlock of Memphis, TN, Carolyn Matlock of Hot Springs, AR and Cora Adams of Sparkman, AR; four brothers, Eddie Lee (Edie) Matlock of Little Rock, AR, Eddie Herman Matlock of Memphis, TN, Floyd Matlock of Milwaukee, WI, and Larry Matlock of Sparkman, AR, and a caravan of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, numerous friends and the Williams Memorial COGIC family. Mother Brooks will lie in state at Williams Funeral Home on Saturday, March 14, 2009, from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m. The Brooks and Selders families will greet friends and share with them the Images of Life DVD from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Williams Memorial COGIC, 1210 Front Street in Nashville, Arkansas. Final tributes and the last farewell to her life will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of Williams Memorial COGIC where Elder Ramon Henderson is the pastor. Superintendent E. A. Edwards of the Nashville District and the pastor of Lewis Temple COGIC in DeQueen, Arkansas will preach the celebration message. The committal service & earthly resting place will be at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Sparkman, Arkansas. Bearers of the casket will be Elder Robert Norvell, Elder Leon Anderson, Joe Anderson, Larry Williamson, Keith Snell, Bruce White and Kirk Manning. Honorary beaers of the casket will be the Senior Mother's Board.