This is Madame Doris Brooks’ Story…
In the month of September, on a beautiful fall afternoon in the city of Detroit, Michigan, mother was born to the union of Mr. Jay D. and Bessie Arzola Street. The third child among five, Verble, Jay D. II, Archie and Georgia Mae. In her early formative years she matriculated through the Detroit Public School system.

Mother attended the Mack Avenue Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the Late Overseer I.W. Winans Sr. It was there that she accepted Christ as her personal savior and was baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost as a child. Her pastor’s teaching and instructions laid the foundation for her spiritual walk.

As a young adult, mother decided to join Greater Love Tabernacle Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Bishop William Rimson because she wanted to be a part of the choir and youth department. While there mother and her peers developed a bond and interest in serving in various groups and auxiliaries. It was there that she served as the radio announcer for the weekly broadcast which aired on.

One Sunday afternoon as the young people at Greater Love gathered around the piano, a young man skillfully played. As she looked on, he turned his head towards her and said “how you doin?” She gracefully responded and that was the beginning of what would be a three‑year courtship that blossomed into a marriage of 68 wonderful years. To this union were born two children, Faithe Sheraan and Phillip Aquilla Brooks III.

She and her husband, then Elder Phillip Brooks, worked with the youth department until God called Elder Brooks to pastor. Elder and Sister Brooks started their church in their home with only she and her mother. After moving the church to several locations, they finally found the location that would be the springboard for what the Lord was doing, Grand River and Kentucky.

Over the years, Madame Brooks served in many fields of ministry which includes but is not limited to serving as the First Lady of Northeastern Jurisdiction; she served over 60 years in ministry. She was the founding First Lady of the Next Step and Charade (developed under the leadership of Bishop C.H. Mason and Mrs. Deborah Mason) a successful outreach church, with the God-given mandate to reach the lost at any cost. She served as the First Lady of the Cathedral Conference; the Next Step and Charade developed over 60 years ago. When the church was established, she served as the President of the Clergy Wives. She served on the Detroit Chapter of the Charles H. Mason Foundation-Mayor’s Book Foundation and the Mayor’s Book Foundation. She was the wife of the first Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. She was a member of the Bishop’s Circle and the Church of God in Christ family that she created – Worldwide.

She was recognized in 2013 as an unsung hero and presented the Madame Brooks God awarded the McDonald’s Award of Recognition of Excellence. In 2015, Madame Brooks was awarded the McDonald’s Award of Recognition of Excellence. She was a valiant force quite dignified and holiness; someone to be imitated as she experienced a life well lived.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…” Romans 1:16