Rosa Effie Brooks (1893-1997)





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First Photograph: Rosa Effie Brooks Fox is bottom left in the above Brooks family group photograph. To identify the others click on the image.

Second Photograph: Family of George Martin Fox, Jr. Seated left to right: Glen Neal Titus, Cleo Fox Titus, Effie Brooks Fox, Rachel Fox Futrell, Ashley Brown Futrell. Standing left to right: Stephanie Carol Titus, Linda Hamlin Titus, Glen Neal Titus, Jr., Susan Boyette Futrell, Ashley Brown Futrell, Jr., Emily Pattrice Titus. Pictured in the portrait above the group is George Martin Fox, Jr.
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Rosa Effie Brooks (July 22, 1893 ---) married George Martin Fox, Jr. (8/17/1890 ---). They were married November 25, 1914. To them were born two daughters, Cleo Patterson Fox (10/31/1917 ---), and Rachel Brooks Fox (5/28/1922). Cleo married Glen Neal Titus of Charleston, Illinois on July 12, 1942 and they have a son, Glen Neal Titus, Jr. (2/21/1945 ---), who married Linda Cobb Hamlin on November 28, 1969 and they have twin daughters, Stephanie Carol and Emily Patrice (6/19/1974), and Glen Titus III (7/28/1978 ---). The Glen Neal Titus, Jr. family lives in Washington, N.C.

Rachel Brooks Fox married Ashley Brown Futrell of Wilson, N.C. on November 25, 1949. They have a son, Ashley Brown Futrell, Jr. (8/31/1956 ---). The family lives in Washington, N.C.

For many years G. M. Fox, Jr. operated Brooksdale General Store. In earlier years a cannery had been in operation here along with the store. After Coca-Cola became popular as a drink, a "drug-store" soda fountain was installed here. This, needless to say, was a most important part of the establishment. He also for a few years planted cotton on his farm, and for the children of the neighborhood used to seeing tobacco in he fields, this was quite an exciting happening. When the bolls popped open in the fall, all of us were eager to "pick cotton." We even earned a few pennies this way, but we were not expert pickers. This store was also a place where we were sent with eggs or other produce to "swap" for sugar, salt or other items not produced on the farm.

Source:: The Heritage of Person County, Volume I, Madeline Hall Eaker, Editor (1981) at 182-185 (Article #411 "The Brooks Family of Brooksdale" by Norma L. Longmire).
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The Family of George Martin Fox, Jr.

George Martin Fox, Jr. was born August 17, 1890, and died March 30, 1952. He was the son of George Monroe Fox (2 August 1862 -- 19 October 1944) and Cleo Patra Clayton (13 March 1857 -- 17 November 1912). George had four brothers. Ozie Alward Fox (22 January 1889 -- 13 September 1955), William Maxie Fox (4 July 1895 -- 1964), Nathaniel Hassell Fox (3 February 1897 to 7 March 1960), and Charlie Fox (1892-1893). The family lived in the Somerset Community in Person County, North Carolina. George and is brothers played musical instruments and formed a band that played for local dances. His mother was quite musically talented, also, and played most musical instruments.

George attended Oak Ridge Institute, Tennessee, where he took a business course. He returned to the Brooksdale community in Roxboro, North Carolina, and opened a general merchandise store, Fox and Company. He loved his work and accommodated all people. He had all of the items that a general store would have plus a soda fountain that it installed. It was not only useful, but also an added attraction. George, also, had a farm, which en enjoyed very much.

On November 25, 1914, he married Rosa Effie Brooks (22 July 1893 -- 31 December 1984). She is the daughter of Charles Bradsher Brooks (29 October 1854 -- 29 November 1936) and Emma Patterson Tapp (3 June 1850 -- 1 August 1922). Effie taught school in Person County, North Carolina, for a short while. Six of her brothers and sisters lived near her and George in the Roxboro, North Carolina area. She loved helping others in the community and working in Brooksdale United Methodist Church, Person County, North Carolina. A hobby of hers was playing cards. There were two daughters born to their union. The are Cleo Patterson Fox (31 October 1917) and Rachel Brooks Fox (28 May 1922).

Cleo and Rachel remember that on rare occasions their father, George, would take the family with him to the merchant's conventions in Lynchburg, Virginia. They also remember the log house he had built for them out of logs from his farm. Many happy hours were spent playing in that house. They have vivid memories of the pony and cart, which George purchased for them to travel many miles around the Brooksdale community.

Cleo married Glen Neal Titus of Charleston, Illinois, on July 12, 1941. Glen came to North Carolina to teach school and was a principal for many years. In 1975, the year he retired, he won the North Carolina Principal of the Year Award. Cleo taught school for twenty-eight years. Cleo and Glen have one son, Glen Neal Titus, Jr. (21 February 1945) who married Linda Cobb Hamlin (3 January 1946). The live in Washington, North Carolina. Neal is principal of Chocowinity Primary School. Linda is a registered nurse and retired in 2000 after teaching nursing and health occupations education.

Neal and Linda have twin daughters, Stephanie Carol and Emily Pattrice (19 June 1974). They graduated from East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. Stephanie married Stewart Woodley of Creswell, North Carolina, and teaches mathematics as East Carolina University. They have one son, Caleb Lawrence Woodley, born November 6, 2000. Emily married Mark Holley of Richlands, North Carolina, and they teach science and chemistry at Fike High School in Wilson, North Carolina, where they live. Neal and Linda had ne son, Glen Neal Titus III (28 July 1978). He graduated from East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, with a degree in music education and during the past year has interned in Chapel, North Carolina, to be a campus minister.

Rachel married Ashley Brown Futrell (27 October 1911) from Wilson, North Carolina. After they married they moved to Washington, North Carolina, where Ashley purchased the Washington Daily News. Rachel taught school for a few years and then worked at the newspaper office. They had one son, Ashley Brown Futrell, Jr. (31 August 1956). He married Susan Boswell Boyette (3 December 1955). The have two children: Gretchen Suzanne Futrell (6 December 1984) and Ashley Brown Futrell III (27 October 1986). Ashley Brown Futrell, Jr., is in the newspaper business with his father in Washington, North Carolina.

George Martin Fox, Jr., was a devoted husband and father. He loved people, his work, family, and church, where he served in many capacities. In fact, he was in church on Sunday morning Marcy 30, 1952, when he fell ill. He left church, went home and called the doctor. It was too late when the doctor arrived, because he had already passed away. The legacy of kindness to his fellow man continues through deeds of those who observed his life.

Source: The Heritage of Person County, Volume III, Eileen M. Mikat, Ph.D., Chair Book Committee (2001) at 93-94 (Article #67 "The Family of George Martin Fox, Jr." by Cleo Fox Titus).

• Married: 1914

1. Cleo Patterson Fox b: 1917
2. Rachel Brooks Fox b: 28 MAY 1922 in Roxboro, Person County, North Carolina

1. Citation Text: Obituary of Rachel Brooks Fox Futrell (1922-2010), Washington Daily News (Washington, North Carolina), 30 September 30, 2010