“Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.
ON FEBRUARY 19, 2026, FROM OUR COMMUNITY WE RECOGNIZE
EDWARD “ED” BROOKS
As a native of southern Albemarle, with over 25 years of experience in community advocacy, public relations, and business in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Ed believes that this area has historically paved a pathway and built a foundation for this present generation of African Americans to excel and thrive in this community.
He is most proud of his involvement as a youth in the 4H programs where he was influenced by Mr. James Butler, the second African-American Extension agent in Albemarle County and Board of Supervisor member; his involvement in the University of Virginia Upward Bound Program under the leadership of Mr. Stephen D. Waters, and credit to his mother, Mrs. Ruth Gardner Brooks, a lifelong resident of Porters-Esmont, a graduate of St. Paul’s College, a church musician in several community churches for over seventy-five years…and for her constant advisement, encouragement and support to pursue a college education; and to his father, Edward Thomas Brooks, and his paternal family lineage for staying true to their western Albemarle church roots although they lived in Charlottesville. Their lives are etched in the cemetery of Oak Union Baptist Church where the Armstead’s, Washington’s and Brooks are laid to rest including perhaps our most noted local relative, Cousin Drewary Brown. We continually reflect humbly that the Charlottesville City Council honored him several years ago by renaming the West Main Street Bridge “The Drewary Brown Memorial Bridge dedicated to also recognizing his many achievements through adding other community members’ names on the bridge who followed in his footsteps as Community Bridge Builders.
They all provided living examples of the high value of community engagement through membership in church, civic and social organizations.
Ed is currently involved as a Board Member for the Ivy Creek Natural Area and River View Farm County/City Park, recent past Board Member for Preservation Piedmont, founding member of Discover Black C’Ville, an umbrella committee for the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau/CACVB and advisory board member for the Friends of Esmont/FOE.
He is currently employed for the Albemarle County Local Government Parks and Recreation Division as the Community Engagement Program Manager for the Benjamin Franklin Yancey School Community Center in Porters-Esmont. Prior to Albemarle County, he served as a historical interpreter for both Monticello and Highland and participated in a six-week Guide Training program at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center.
He is married to Traci Sergeon Brooks, a Washington, D.C. native, where they met as students and graduates of Buffalo State College/University-SUNY (1982). He has a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting and Traci, a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management and M.A. (Education) from James Madison University. She is employed with the University of Virginia Center for Community Programs as a Success Opportunities Program Manager for Middle and High School Students in both the Albemarle County School Division and Charlottesville City Schools.
They have three adult children and reside in Albemarle County.