In Memory
Arvester Lee Brooks, Jr.
November 13, 1939 ~ February 3, 2025 (age 85)
Arvester Lee Brooks, Jr., known to his family as Junior and to his friends as Hawk, was called home on February 3, 2025.
Arvester was born on November 13, 1939, in South Bend, Indiana, to the union of Arvester Lee Brooks, Sr. and Noble Jean (Wiley) Brooks. The eldest of six children, he loved interacting with people and was always popular. Arvester was known to be very approachable and easily entreated, because of his calming demeanor and peaceful character. He was a true athlete from an early age, enjoying marbles, baseball, and running.
Arvester participated in numerous activities while at Washington High School. In addition to his involvement with drama and glee clubs, he excelled in football, basketball, and track. He played football, starting as right end in 1956 and 1957. Arvester was the city scoring leader in basketball, averaging over 20 points per game. In addition to this achievement, he was the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1957-1958. He was also named to the Indiana All-Stars, earned the Kiwanis Award, and received a college basketball scholarship in Arkansas. Arvester led the WHS track team in scoring for two seasons as both a high and low hurdler, winning the City Championship in both events for 1957 and 1958. In 1958, he went to State and won the high and low hurdles. He was one of two people that was a double winner for that meet. In honor of his many achievements, Arvester was inducted into the Washington High School Hall of Fame in February 2001.
Sometime after high school, Arvester moved to California and a few years later he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was Honorably Discharged in November 1965. Throughout his young adult life, Arvester enjoyed a wide variety of passions and pursuits. He continued to shine athletically while practicing with an exhibition basketball team and competing in various local California bodybuilding contests. The highlight of his working career was owning a delivery truck business in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Arvester also had a love of cooking and often delighted family and friends with his cuisine. Later in life, he even began planning to open a food truck business with his youngest daughter and completed a culinary program, while living in Hawaii, in pursuit of this goal. With all of these experiences and endeavors, Arvester still appreciated the simple joys in life. He also loved the book of Proverbs in the Bible and the wisdom of God that came through reading it.
Arvester…Junior…Hawk…however you knew him, one thing is clear – he was dearly loved and will be missed by his family and friends.
Within his unions Arvester was blessed with six loving children to cherish his memory: Yalanda Brooks, his only son Arvester L. Brooks III (Nuria), Dawn Wicker (Bernard), Niko Lewis (Jason), Tonya Bronson, Jacquetta Douglas (Jason). Grandchildren: Brian Peck (Sajata), Da Nika Crigler (Byron), BreAna Sanchez, Bernard Wicker, Jr. (Brei), Takara Rios (Aaron), Dominique Barr (Dempsey), Anaisa Brooks, Nyah Lewis, Zachary Lewis, Audrey Lewis, Gianna Lewis, Jasmine Douglas. Great-Grandchildren: Bryson Peck, Josiah Sanchez, Noah Barr, Jeremiah Joseph Barr, Neriah Crigler, Ariel Crigler. Also cherishing his memory are his sister, Shirley Simmons, brother-in-law, Robert Neal, a special cousin, Sandy Harvey-Cobb, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arvester (Sr.) and Noble Brooks; four siblings Barbara Jean Brooks, Alvin Brooks, Michael Brooks, and Brenda Neal.
2/16/2025 djb
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