Mrs. Johnnie Mae Brookins Tyler

Mrs. Johnnie Mae Brookins Tyler was born August 23, 1924 in Terrell, Texas to Cordell Brookins and Mary Alberta Marsh Brookins. She began her formal Education in the Dallas Independent School District, where she graduated B.F. Darrell Elementary School and Lincoln High School. She continued her education at Prairie View A and M University where she received Bachelor's and Master's Degrees.

On May 31, she was united in Holy Matrimony to Mr. Buford Rudolph Tyler. To this union was born one child, Roderic.

After graduation, Mrs. Tyler embarked on an educational career that would include two school districts. She began her career in the Dallas Independent School District, where she taught First Grade until her husband's career took them to Memphis, Tennessee in 1971, at which point she retired from DISD and continued teaching in the Memphis Independent School District, from which she also subsequently retired.

Mrs. Tyler was a lifelong Christian, having affiliated with the Saint John Missionary Baptist Church as a child. As a child, she was active in the Girl Scout Troop at St. John as well as Sunday School and church. As an adult, she was active in Sunday School, the Missionary Circle, the Garden Club, and various other church auxiliaries. Her husband, Reverend Buford Tyler, was ordained as a minister in 1954 and eventually served as Assistant Pastor and Interim Pastor of St. John.

Upon moving to Memphis, TN in 1971, Rev. and Mrs. Tyler united with the St. John Baptist Church in Memphis, where he eventually became Assistant Pastor. Mrs. Tyler continued her very active church life there, serving in Sunday School, the Mission Circle, and Women's Fellowship.

In 1984 when Rev. Tyler was called to Pastor Geeter Park Baptist Church in Memphis, Mrs. Tyler became First Lady of Geeter Park Baptist Church.  She was also a faithful member of the Baptist Minister's Wives Guild of Memphis, TN.

Mrs. Tyler was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sister, Mrs. Pauline Brookins Taylor. She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Roderic (Gale), two grandchildren; Lia Spears (Cordell), Brianna Reed (Avanti), one great granddaughter Aria Skyy Reed, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, family members, and friends.