Wilbert H. Brooks Jr., 83, died Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, leaving behind a decades-long legacy in Virginia education.

Mr. Brooks was born on June 6, 1940, in Richmond to the late Wilbert Henry Brooks Sr. and Celestine Boone Brooks.

He attended Blackwell Primary and Secondary Schools before graduating from Armstrong High School in 1959.

During his time at Virginia State College, before it became Virginia State University, Mr. Brooks balanced his academic and athletic pursuits and accomplishments. He served as captain of the championship wrestling team and was inducted into the VSU Hall of Fame for wrestling. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial arts and administration supervision.

Mr. Brooks began his education career teaching at East End High School in Mecklenburg County, later moving to Binford Middle School to teach, before transferring to Henrico County and Highland Springs High and Moody Middle.

Mr. Brooks assumed many roles throughout his career, from teacher to department chair at Highland Springs and assistant principal at Moody Middle.

Since 1962, he had been a committed Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He also served as a member and the 26th president of Club 533, alongside work with the Theban Beneficial Club, a Connecting Link, Diques, Mules and the D’JENTS.

Mr. Brooks also served for years as a deacon and co-chair of the Scholarship Committee for Zion Baptist Church South Richmond, where he was baptized, and later was a part of the Pastor’s Aid Committee at St. Peter Baptist Church, after transferring his membership.

Mr. Brooks is survived by his wife, Evelyn Carter Brooks; their two children, Tasha Brooks Dickerson and Wilbert H. Brooks III; two grandsons, Reginald O. Dickerson Jr. and Carter A. Dickerson; uncle Carlton T. Brooks, aunt Lois Brooks Johnson and several nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends.

A funeral for Mr. Brooks was held Saturday, March 9, at St. Peter Baptist Church in Glen Allen.