Rena Mae Murphy was born October 11, 1941, to the union of Burrell and Elzata Hines Murphy.  After the passing of her mother when she was age 7, little Rena Mae went to live with her paternal grandparents, Robert and Harriet Murphy in Fayette County. Her grandparents loved and cared for her while rearing her in a strict Christian home. Being reared in a God-fearing home, Rena accepted Christ as her personal Savior and Lord at an early age.

Her education was received from the Fayette County School District.  Rena later decided to further her education and became a Certified Nurse Assistant which gave her the opportunity to serve with Gallaway Nursing Center (formerly Layton Watson Nursing Home) in Gallaway, TN for 17 years.

Rena met and later married her husband of 68 years, Herman Brooks, Sr. They shared12 children: Mae Hunt; Carolyn Hodge; Herman (Janice) Brooks, Jr; Roy Chester Brooks, Sr.; Terry (Juanita) Brooks; Brian (Iris) Brooks; Corey Brooks (deceased);
Monica Brooks (deceased); Angela Brooks-Seaberry; Latonia Brooks- (Demetrious,Sr.)- Williams; Demetria (Jason) Jones; and Nicholas Brooks.

Our beloved Rena Mae Murphy Brooks departed this life on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at 3:25 p.m. at Cordova Wellness and Rehabilitation Center. In addition to her children, Rena leaves to celebrate her life a granddaughter that she reared as her own- Nephraterri (Christopher, Sr) Campbell; 23 additional grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren-all whom she loved beyond measure; 6 siblings- Martha Irving and Susie Taylor of Elkhart, IN; Dorothy Lawson of Memphis, TN; Hattie Bell Murphy (Bob) Burnham; Walter "Buck" Murphy; and Stanley Murphy of Detroit, MI; sisters in-law, Barbara Brooks of Brownsville, TN; Mildred (Garland) Sharp of Oakridge, TN and Minnie V. Brooks of Winfield, IL and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and special  friends.

Along with her parents, 4 siblings preceded her in death: Otis Lee Murphy, Robert "Jimmy" Murphy; Annie Merrill Sheard; and Faye Edwards.