Leukemia claims alumna

Mary Elizabeth Brooks, known by friends as MEB, always wanted to teach young children. She graduated in December 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, excited, energetic and ready to pursue teaching. One day, Brooks was teaching in a local elementary school when she suddenly passed out.

Doctors told her it was a sinus infection.

But it was not a sinus infection. Blood work results soon revealed Brooks had Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This fast-growing cancer took her life within eight months of the diagnosis.

Brooks passed away early Wednesday morning at VCU Medical Center by the side of her family.

A member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, Brooks was an inspiration for sorority sister Paige Bailey.

“She was always laughing,” Bailey said, “just being silly.”

Bailey first met Brooks through her older sister.

“I was the obnoxious tag-along little sister,” Bailey said. But it never bothered Brooks, she said. “She let me tag along.”

When Bailey was in the process of joining Sigma Sigma Sigma, Brooks was there to help her along the way, Bailey said.

“Tell everyone that I love them very much.”

– Mary Elizabeth Brooks’ last words

“There was a time when I thought I didn’t want to do it,” Bailey said. “But she came busting into my house, got in bed with me and said ‘What are you doing?’ ”

Bailey and Brooks turned their friendship into an official sisterhood, although they had been close for years.

Last Sunday, Bailey received a call. Her best friend was dying and didn’t have much time left.

Bailey knew she had to see her.

She went to the hospital Tuesday afternoon and snuggled next to her sorority sister, who was numb from medicines. Brooks smiled and waved at Bailey, something the doctors and family members said she had not done in a long time. The two sisters talked about memories and joked about the last time Brooks jumped into bed with Bailey. And then Brooks fell asleep.

Brooks passed away the next day. Her last words to the world were, “Tell everyone that I love them very much.”

Bailey said she will never forget her best friend and will miss being able to pick up the phone and know her friend is on the other end.

Brooks funeral is today at 2 p.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church at 903 Forest Avenue.

Brooks loved VCU and all of her memories that occurred on and off-campus. Her father, Herb, is also a VCU alumnus and her younger sister, Emily, now attends VCU.

“They went to every basketball game together,” Bailey said.

The family asks for donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or to Trinity United Methodist Church instead of flowers. The church is building a house in her name.