Rachel Elizabeth Couch Brooks

Mrs. Rachel Elizabeth Couch Brooks, 96, of Pittsburgh, PA and formerly of Chase City, VA died June 18, 2021. She was born in Chase City, VA on February 22, 1925 to Lula Moss Couch Hardy and Richard Henry Couch Jr. Rachel attended Thyne Institute High School in 1942 in Chase City, Virginia. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Business from Virginia State University and received a master's degree in Business Education from the University of Pittsburgh. In 1948, she married the love of her life, Earl Leigh Brooks in Washington, DC. She began her career at the Pittsburgh Courier in the Editorial Department reporting to the Managing Editor. She began working at the Allegheny County Housing Authority and Pittsburgh Action Housing Economic Development. Rachel became a teacher in Business Education in 1968 and then developed the Business Education curriculum for the Pittsburgh Middle Schools. In 1973, she was promoted to Supervisor of Business Education for Pittsburgh Public Schools and nominated for the State of Pennsylvania Board of Education. Rachel retired from education in 1989. Rachel was a member of Homewood United Presbyterian, held leadership positions at Bethesda Presbyterian, and she was a former member of East Liberty Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. Rachel enjoyed teaching, community service, and her girlfriends and service clubs including the Omega Wives of Omega Psi Phi, the Northeasterners – Pittsburgh Chapter, Peter Pan Club for African-American Children and the "So What's" Pinochle Card Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl L. Brooks, Sr; two brothers, Lewis Zachery Couch and Richard Henry Couch, II; three sisters, Margaretta Jackson Cummings Palmer, Marie Giles Davis and Rosalie Couch; niece, Gail Jackson Ratliff and nephew, Richard Henry Couch, IV. Surviving her are her three devoted children, Donna Brooks Lucas (Wilfred), Earl L. Brooks, Jr. (Cheryl) and Autumn Laurie Brooks; four grandchildren, Brooke Taylor Spearmon (Shaun), James Marc Brown, Kristin Courtney Brown Riggs (Durand) and Ryan Wilfred Lucas; and five great-grandchildren, Ava Noelle Spearmon, Olivia Hope Spearmon, Vaughn Allen Spearmon, Leilani Laurie Riggs and Matthew Randall Riggs; six nieces, Joyce Giles Robinson, Sandra Mobley-Terry, Jackie Trice Hoyer, Jeannette Trice Giannetta and Angela Brooks Cook; two nephews, Johnnie Couch and Milton Earl Brooks; and many loving grandnieces, nephews and cousins. A graveside service will be conducted 11:00 AM Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at Thyne Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Chase City, VA. Arrangements are by Giles-Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Chase City, VA.