Ross W. Brooks Memorial Service

Greenwood Memorial Lawn
Phoenix, Arizona

November 2, 2002

Royston (Ross) Whatley Brooks
1839 - 1923

Ross W. Brooks was born in 1839 in Paulding County, Georgia, to parents Allen Brooks and Elizabeth Anne Pollard. The family resided in Mississippi and Texas in the early 1850s. At the start of the Civil War, R. W. Brooks resided in Limestone County, Texas. On September 12, 1861, he enlisted in the well-known regiment known as Terry's Texas Rangers, or the Eighth Texas Cavalry.

On January 23, 1862, R. W. Brooks married Martha Clayton in Palo Pinto, Texas. Afterward, he returned to duty and served through the end of the War. R. W. Brooks and Martha (Clayton) Brooks had five children: Evelyn, Johnny, Lewis, Minnie, and Jeptha. In 1884, Martha died in Pecos, Texas.

Ross Brooks enlisted in the Arizona Rangers in Naco, Arizona, on October 1, 1904. He tendered his resignation only three months later (January 7, 1905) and was discharged on March 31, 1905. Captain Rynning of the Arizona Rangers commented on the discharge papers: "excellent service, honest & faithful, a good Ranger."

Ross remarried to Dolores (Lola) Ballesteros. On June 26, 1907, they had a son, Ross Jr.
In June 1916, at the age of 77, Ross Brooks, Sr., became a police officer in Douglas, Arizona. He served in this capacity until some time between 1920 and 1922, when it is believed he was ambushed in the Douglas Railway yard. He received a severe head injury in this attack.
Brooks was committed to the Arizona State Hospital in May 1923, and died there on December 20, 1923.

Invocation

Welcome

Poem

Unveiling of SCV Marker

Keynote Address

Unveiling of the Headstone

Laying of Wreaths

Salute

Taps

Benediction

Closing

Special appreciation to:

The many family members who have shared
their history, memories, and stories.

Tom Tatum and members of the Sons of
Confederate Veteran, Camp 1525

Troy Groves, Historical Researcher & Webmaster
of http://www.TerrysTexasRangers.org

The Arizona Civil War Council

The many researchers, historians, archivists, and
individuals who have assisted in discovering the
life of Ross W. Brooks.