Reverend Edgar Marcelus Brooks

Author of "Brooks of Union Co, NC," 1925

Author of "History of the Rocky River Baptist Church, " 1928

Original Brooks family genealogist

Traveling Baptist Minister

Host of Brooks Family Reunions

Rev. Edgar Marcelus Brooks and wife Emma E. Morton (1941)
Married January 23, 1901 in Norwood, Stanly County, NC

Not many people in Stanly County would have known a lot about the Rocky River Baptist Church's history or the history of my family had it not been for my grandfather, Rev. E. M. Brooks. He researched and wrote the histories for both. The Brooks of Union Co, NC by E. M. Brooks was published in 1925! Most of what you read on this page was in his book. I admire my grandfather a great deal even though I'd never met him before... he was born 100 yrs before me, in 1861! His tireless efforts as a circuit preacher, historian, father of six, etc., etc. make him an admirable man in anyone's eyes. I was just lucky enough to be his grandson.

Edgar Marcelus Brooks (E. M. Brooks) was born to Culpeper P. Brooks and Louisa Lowery Allen in Stanly Co, NC. He was the only son of four who lived… three died at birth. So, all of his descendants (like us) feel rather special to have come from him.

Edgar Marcelus Brooks (b. 5 Feb 1861 Stanly Co., d. 26 May 1943 Palmerville, NC) m. Emma Eugenia Morton (b. 15 Feb 1879 Stanly Co, d. 24 May 1946 Palmerville, NC), daughter of Rev. David Stanly Morton and Mary Jane Tucker on 23 Jan 1901 in Norwood, NC. They are buried beside each other in Norview Gardens Cemetery in Palmerville, N.C.

Their six children are:

Cullen Paul Brooks b. 24 Feb 1902 d. 23 Jul 1996
Clara Jean Brooks b. 15 Mar 1904 d. Jul 1974
Edgar Macon Brooks b. 3 Jul 1906 d. 6 Dec 1989
Julian Allen Brooks b. 15 May 1911 d. 10 May 1980
Baylus Cade Brooks Sr. b. 1 Jan 1916 d. 21 Jan 1986
Mary Brooks b. 3 Jun 1919 d. Apr 1988

This picture was taken by my Dad (Baylus Cade Brooks Sr.) so, he's not in it. J But, here's who is: top row, left to right: Edward Ford Graham, Cullen Paul Brooks, Mallie Hawley Brooks, Edgar Macon Brooks; second row, left to right: Maryleigh Runge Brooks, Rev. E. M. Brooks, Emma Eugenia Morton Brooks, Clara Jean Brooks Graham; bottom row, left to right: Dr. Robert Edgar Brooks, Gladys Graham, Nancy Lee Brooks, Julian Allen Brooks. This picture was taken c1941 at Rev. E. M. Brooks' residence in Peachland, NC (I think!)

Cullen P. Clara Jean Edgar Macon Julian Allen Baylus Cade Mary

Cullen P. Brooks

Cullen was a mathematics and latin teacher at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va, where he and his wife, Myrtie Bidgood both taught and lived. He served the Academy from 1924 to 1972 when he retired as Lt. Col. He received his B.A. from Wake Forest in 1924.

Edgar Macon "Unk" Brooks

"Unk" was a resident of Fayetteville, NC where he married Mallie Hawley (daugther of Stephen David Hawley and Mary Catherine Lee, both of Sampson Co, NC) and raised his son Robert Edgar Brooks (today an accomplished dentist and educator living in Fayetteville, NC). "Unc" ran his own service station for awhile and worked for the Fayetteville Observer-Times for many years, retiring from there.

Clara Jean Brooks

Married Edward Ford Graham of Shreveport, La. They were married in Albemarle 9 Jun 1930. They lived in Shreveport until their deaths. They had a daughter name Gladys.

Julian Allen Brooks

"Uncle Allen" lived in Inman, SC for a number of years before his death in 1980. I had never really known him, but after having met him and discovered his interests, I felt like we would have made fast friends. He has a daughter, Nancy who lives in Richmond, VA.

Baylus Cade Brooks, Sr.

My dad was born 1 Jan 1916, a "new year's baby" in Palmerville, NC. He also lived in Fayetteville, NC, having moved there with his parents from Peachland, NC while just a teenager. He attended Fayetteville High School (now known as Terry Sanford High School). Before graduation in 1933, he began working at a local pharmacy and began to develop an interest in that profession. Soon, he met and married Maryleigh Runge. They spent nearly ten years together before my sister, Mary Leigh Brooks was born. Another daughter, Emma Louise Brooks soon followed.

Children of Baylus Cade Brooks and Maryleigh Runge:

Mary Leigh Brooks (living in Moneta, VA)

Emma Louise Brooks (living in Santa Rosa, CA)

Children of Baylus Cade Brooks and Phyllis:

Catherine Eloise Brooks (living in New Hampshire)

During that ten year period, our father served in the US Navy as a pharmacist's mate for two years. He had apprenticed as a pharmacist for more than ten years at Matthews Pharmacy in Fayetteville before signing up in the Navy. As luck would have it, the rules governing the practice of pharmacists had changed while my father was away at war... now, a four-year degree was required for certification. So, in 1948, my father enrolled in the University of North Carolina and received his bachelor's in Pharmacy in 1952, graduating with honors (Rho Chi Honor Society). From then on, he served the city of Fayetteville as pharmacist and owner of Fayetteville Drug Co. #1, part owner of Fayetteville Drug Co. #2 until his retirement in 1980. For six years, he and his second wife (married 10 Dec 1960), Bernice Pierce, lived in Florida. "Cade" and Bernice had three sons:

Baylus Cade Brooks, Jr. (living in Smithfield, NC) (ME!!!)
Phillip Wayne Brooks (deceased in Navarre, FL)
Gregory Pierce Brooks (living in Atlanta, GA)

Baylus Cade Brooks Sr. died in 1986 in Lake City Memorial Hospital. Bernice Pierce Brooks now lives in O’Brien, FL where she moved with my father in 1983.

Mary Brooks

"Aunt Mary" married John Hill and lived most of her life in Shreveport, LA. Her daughter, Caroline still lives there with her husband, Dexter Grogan and family. Her other children moved to Baton Rouge, LA.