Virginia Sanders Brooks of Sheridan, Arkansas was born September 19, 1928 in Louisville, Mississippi, the daughter of the late William Jasper and Bessie Richardson Sanders. She was a graduate of Henderson State University where she earned her BSE degree and UCA where she received her MSE degree. She taught thirty-three years as a high school teacher and sponsor of the school newspaper. A stern disciplinarian of conduct and scholarship in her classes, she stressed reading from the classics to modern literature, composition and grammar. She had no children of her own, but she claimed the more than five thousand students she taught as her own.

Ms. Brooks died Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at Sheridan Healthcare and Rehab at the age of 89.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Sheridan where she was also a member of the Primetimers and Sunshine Sunday School Class. She was a member of the Arkansas Retired Teachers Association, Grant County Retired Teachers Association, and PEO Sisterhood, Chapter Y.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carson Brooks, brother, James Douglas Sanders and sister, Doris Easterling.

Survivors are her adopted family and caregivers, Libbie Tipton and Lynn Rickett both of Sheridan, and many adopted grandchildren as well as a host of nieces, nephews, former students and friends.

Funeral service will be Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Brian Rickett and Bro. Michael Daugherty officiating. Burial will follow at Lost Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to the service from 10:00 until service time.

Pallbearers are Seth Tipton, Bruce Tipton, Ryan Rickett, David Nelson, Russ Rhodes, and Randy Mooney. Honorary pallbearers are her former students.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 1201 South Rock, Sheridan, AR 72150, Grant County Library, 210 North Oak, Sheridan, AR 72150 or Sheridan/Lost Creek Cemetery, P.O. Box 514, Sheridan, AR 72150.