BROOKS, VIRGINIA RUTH Virginia Ruth Brooks, nee Matson, was born in Chicago, Il., Oct. 1, 1925, and passed from this life Sunday, Feb. 17. She was the wife of Charles G. Brooks, Sr., former editorial cartoonist for The Birmingham News. She was a loving mother with an ardent interest in sports. A faithful Chicago Cubs fan, she also cheered the Alabama Crimson Tide. She was a former little league baseball coach. She was a member of Irondale United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Ruth Matson (nee Peterson), brothers Leonard and Kenneth, and her loving husband, Charles G. Brooks, Sr. Survivors include: daughter Barbara Bankhead, son Charles G. Brooks, Jr. (Lydia), granddaughters Lisa Hart (Jim) and Kathryn Hynds, grandsons David L. Brooks and John G. Brooks (Christy), and great grandson Michael Dephoure. Visitation will be Thursday; 4:30 p.m. for family, 5-7 p.m. for friends. Services led by the Rev. Ed Sims of Irondale United Methodist Church will be 10 a.m. Friday at Jefferson Memorial Gardens Chapel. Pallbearers will be grandsons David and John Brooks, Jim Hart, David Matson, Nathan Matson, and great grandson Michael Dephoure. The family would appreciate donations to Irondale United Methodist Church or the Methodist Children's Home. Jefferson Memorial Trussville directing.