Dedicated to the Memory of Sandy Dexter Brooks, first Indian
Superior Court Judge: May 15, 1943- March 5, 2002
Published Every Thursday in Pembroke, NC
"CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
U NCP Library
"Building Communicative Bridges in a Tri-Racial Setting" p?Soxi510
Pembroke Nr
NC 28372-1510
VOLUME 2V NUMHER U THURSDAY, MARCH 14. 2002 re.
Remembering Senior Resident Superior
Court Judge Sandy Dexter Brooks
by Connce Brayboy
: :::::
This issue of the Carolina Indian Voice is dedicated to the memory of
Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Sandy Dexter Brooks. Brooks
was the first Indian Superior Court Judge in the State of North Carolina.
assuming that position January 1. 19X9. Brooks was never married
He was born May 15, 1943 He was the second youngest of a
family of five boys and two girls. His father, John H. Brooks, was a
.public.school teachet; farmer and Baptist deaccuv- His mother. Mrs.'v
Lela Hammonds' Brooks, was a part-linic public school teacher ancT
homemakcr.
Judge Brooks lost a four year battle with cancer on Tuesday, March
5,2002 at age 58.
He was a an advocate for Indian causes and dedicated to improving
the political plight of people of color He was instrumental in many
progessive mov es in Robeson County, including breaking double voting,
merging the school system, saving Old Main on the LTNCP campus,
the election of the first Black to the House of Representatives,
and many other activities He will be remembered for his brilliant mind,
fairness to others and his ability to plan political strategies which
resulted in Blacks and Indians being elected to positions of authority
in Robeson County. He was not ashamed and made no apologies for
being Indian. In his role as Senior Resident Superior Court Judge, he
had no problem assuming his rightful position as tlic one in charge and
operated the Robeson County Court House as a great leader He will
be remembered for his courageous personal act of Jtanging a picture of
Henry Berry Lovvric, local Indian hero in the Robeson County Court
House, as well as many other accomplishments too numerous to list
here He was a historian and enjoy ed making history as the first Indian
judge, and took personal pride in swearing in the first Indian Sheriff,
Glenn Maynor, elected in the county One of his personal triumphs
was when he admitted his nephew (brother John Mark Brooks' son)
Brian Keith Brooks, to tlic North Carolina Bar. Judge Brooks was also
a thinker and a scholar These qualities will be missed especially in tlie
Luinbce community. We shall not soon meet his calibre again
Brooks educational background included Pembroke Graded School.
1949-57. While there he won the Reading Award as well as the Mathematics
Award. He was a 1961 graduate of Pembroke High School
where he served as Senior Class Officer and received tjic Mathematics
Achievement Award. He graduated from North Carolina State University.
Raleigh. NC in 1965. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical
Engineering with High Honors He received a Masters of Mathematics
from NCSU in 1971 with High Honors
In 1976 he earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of North
Carolina School of Law. Chapel Hill. During his tenure there he was
honored with the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fellowship. American Indian
Law Fellowship and the American Jurisprudence Awards.
He serv ed in the United States Army from 1966 until 1968 and was a
Veteran of the Vietnam War where he served with the First Air Calv ary
Div ision During his military sen ice he was awarded the National
Defense Sen ice Medal. Vietnam Sen ice Medal with two Bron/.c Service
Stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal 2/dcv ice/1960,
one Overseas Bar and was a Sharpshooter (Rifle M-14)
}Vith a varied background. Judge Brooks was affiliated with Locklear,
Brooks. Jacobs and Sutton (formerly Locklcar and Brooks and
Locklcar. Brooks and Jacobs) Law Firm in Pembroke," NC from 1976
until 1988 The firm is now Locklcar. Jacobs, Hunt and Brooks
The following articlefrom the North Carolina State A lumni Magazine,
by Natalie E. Hampton, tells the Judge's story. It is entitled
"Brooks '65 appointed to Superior Court: Engineer turned judge
presidesin racially turbulent Robeson County (1989)"
As a graduate student at SCSI', Dexter Brooks (B S '65, M.S. 71)
was more concerned with mathematical problems than legal problems.
But a growing interesting in voting rights issues in his native Robeson
County. NC turned Brooks' interest from math and electrical
engineering to the study of law.
For almost a year,. Brooks, a l.umhee Indian, has ser\>ed as a resident
Superior Court judge in Robeson County. The judgeship was
created by the NC General Assembly following the death of Indian
activist Julian Pierce, the man many Lumbees believed would have
become the state s first Indian judge
Pierce was killed in a domestic dispute just five weeks before the
Democratic primary in which he challenged Robeson County District
Attorney Joe Freeman Britt for Superior Court Judge.
II "hen NC Governor James G. A lartin pledged to appointed an Indian
to the new judgeship. Brooks' ear probably began to burn He was a
> clear choice for the position.
Brooks had been a partner in the Pembroke law firm Ixicklear, Brooks,
Jacobs and Sutton. He and A mold Locklear hadformed the partnership
following Brooks' graduation from law school in 1976.
Brooks had known Julian Pierce and worked with him on a number
of civil rights cases during fierce s dins ns exec utive director of
l.mnhee River l.egcil Services.. a legal aid program Hrooks helped to
organize. The two successfully fought to have the Robeson County
commissioner districts redrawn several times
Though racial turmoil has rocked Robeson I 'otinlv in recent years.
Ilrooks is optimistic lie feels things are improving because blac ks
and Indians have become more active in local politics, seeking and
w inning public office.
Because of his activist work, critics warned that Hrooks would pursue
a liberal agenda. How ever, w hen it comes to court proceedings.
Hrooks is described as "right dow n the middle. "
"J don 1r see myself as what same people might term an activist judge. "
he says "In mv scheme of things I see the law as being made hv the
stale legislature and by the appellate court Trial pidges are more
enforc ers of the law as opposed to makers of the law
"/ try not to inject myself into the trial.. I.v an attorney, you re an
advocate and you have to represent your client zealously. Hut as
a judge, von have to be neutral and impartial, and you can l
show any favoritism to either side. "
I'rior to entering law school. Brooks career intliuled work as
on assistant engineer wiih lleslinghoiise l-'lei trie ('or/> lie also
taught math at two eastern Xorth t 'arohna community colleges
and at XI 'SI' as a graduate teaching assistant
Ithile Brooks sees his appointment as a Superior < 'ourt judge as
important, he maintains a sense of perspective about the relative
power of judges.
"I think it was a positive step m the sense that it allowed Indians
to feel mor e a part of the system. " Brooks says. "I hate to think
of a judgeship as being part of the balance oj power because
judges have to disassociate themselves from most of the political
process. "
Judge Brooks was one of the greatest legal minds in the nation
He leaves to cherish his memories, liis brother. Larry T Brooks of
Pembroke and two sisters. Maggie Lois Mercer of Pembroke and
Vivian Atha. several ncices and nephews and thousands of members
of the Lumbcc Tribe He was preceded in death by three
brothers. Steve Brooks. Earl Brooks and John Mark Brooks
A Message from the reigning
Miss Lumbee Jammi Lowry
Living the dream of being Miss Lumbee has made me wiser and more
appreciative of iny heritage. I take great pride representing iny people
and I ain always eager to educate others about our struggles as well as
our victories. We have so much to be thankful for I deeply appreciate
all the prayers and support you have offered me throughout my reign
Listed below is a brief summary of events I have shared in
I participated in the Healing Lodge Native American Ministries where
I performed and visited with various individuals. The "Healing Lodge"
addresses many issues that affect our community such as substance
abuse, homelcssncss. sexually transmitted diseases, domestic violence,
child abuse, and suicide prevention. 1 encourage each of you to become
involved w ith this project that w ill make our community a better
place
1 provided special entertainment for the follow ing programs or events
Syphilis Awareness Seminar held at Prospect United Methodist Church.
Pembroke Chamber of Commerce Banquet held at UNC'-Pcmbroke. Vocations/Scholarship
Rally held at Prospect United Methodist Church.
Douglas Byrd High School Pageant in Faycttcville. UNC-Pcnibrokc
Alumni Banquet, and the Unity Conference General Assembly program.
I attended Spring Hill Middle School 's Multicultural program in Laurinburg
where I performed and gave a presentation on unity and brotherhood
It w as a joy of mine to visit Shining Star's Daycare in Pembroke
where 1 explained my regalia and demonstrated native dance What a
great honor for me io be the first Miss Lumbee to attend the initial
Diversity Awards Banquet held at Richmond Community College where
I sang a traditional song and gave a brief presentation of the Lumbee
culture A humbling experience came for me w hen I visited various rest
homes where I played the piano and sang gospel hymns.
In closing, I would like to encourage our youth to
spend time with our elders. The knowledge tney possess is so
great and by learning from them will help us to preserve our
culture.
If my services are ever needed, you can contact me
either through LRDA, Ms Angel Clark at 521-8602, or my home
521-3706. you can also read additional articles throughout
my reign on my webpage www.lumbee.ora. I am your reigning
Miss Lumbee 2001-2:002, Jammi Lowry.
Aho!
Hunt Wins Miss North Carolina
Teen All American
Miss Morgan Brittany Hunt ,
daughter of Johnny and Demetrius
Hunt of Rowland N.C. was
crowned Miss North Carolina
Teen A.. American 2002 at the
Adam's Mark Hotel in WinstonSalem
on Sunday March 3rd.
Forty-five beautiful young ladies
competed with entrants from
all over the State for the coveted
crown.
As Miss North Carolina Teen
All American 2002, Morgan will
receive 'an expense paid trip to
Miami, Florida this August where
she will compete with young
women form all over the country
for the prestigious title of Miss
Teen All American. The 24th Annual
Miss Teen All American pageant
will be presented at the Miami
airport Hilton and Towers on
August 1 st to August 4th 2002.
Morgan is the granddaughter of
fuller and the late Delora Locklear
of Lumberton and Ms. Laney and
the late Jack Hunt from Rowland
N.C. Morgan is 19 yrs. old and a
freshman at the University of
North Carolina at Pembroke were
she plans to major in Mass Communications.
Morgan would like
to thank every one for their support
and prayer's.
First Bank Promotions
Lucille Locklear
Peggy Hunt
First Bank is pleased to announce that Lucille B. Locklear has
been promoted to assistant vice President and is the Branch Man- *
ager of the Pembroke Branch.
She is currently a resident of Robeson County and is a graduate
from Magnolia High School in Lumberton, NC. She has also attended
Robeson Community College and has obtained her Series 6
and Series 63 license which allows her to conduct mutual fund and
variable annuity transactions. She has been employed with First Bank
since March 2001 when First Bank acquired the Pembroke Branch
from First Union, but has over 29 years of banking experience. She
serves as President of the Wesf Robeson United Methodist Women.
Director of the Children's Church Ministry, is a certified Lay Speaker,
and serves on the Advisory board of the CIS Academy,
Lucille is married to the Reverend Marshall M. Locklear and they
have five children.
She is the daughter of Wardell and Ciertha Bumctte of Shannon.
They make their home in Maxton. NC in the Red Banks community
and are members of the West Robeson United Methodist Church.
First Bank is also pleased to announce that Peggy S. Hunt has
been promoted to Branch Officer. Peggy is the Assistant Manager of
the Pembroke Branch.
She is currently a resident of Robeson County where she graduated
from Pembroke Senior High School. She has also attended
Robeson community College and has obtained her Series 6 and Series
63 license which allows her to conduct mutual fund and annuity
transactions. She has been employed with First Bank since March
2001, but has over 23 years of banking experience.
Peggy is married to Brian R. Hunt and they have five children.
They make their home in Pembroke, NC and attend the West Robeson
United methodist Church.
First Bank is the major subsidiary of First Bancorp, a bankholding
company based in Troy, North Carolina. It is a state-chartered bank
that serves a sixteen-county area centered in Troy. First Bank has
assets of over $1 billion and offers a full range of banking services
to individuals and businesses throughout its market area.