Lucy Goode Brooks

Lucy Goode Brooks (September 13, 1818 – October 7, 1900) was an enslaved American woman who later became instrumental in the founding of the Friends' Asylum for Colored Orphans in Richmond, Virginia.

Early life and education Goode was born on September 13, 1818, in Virginia to the slave Judith Goode and a white man. She met another slave, Albert Royal Brooks, and taught him to read and write so that they could write passes to see each other. When her master died in 1838, she became the property of a man named Sublett. That same year, she joined the First Baptist Church of Richmond. Shortly after Goode became Sublett's property, he allowed her to marry Brooks on February 2, 1839, and allowed them to live together. Albert's owner allowed him to operate a livery stable, for which he collected rent, but also permitted Albert to keep his additional earnings and use them to buy his freedom. In 1841 when the Baptist church divided, she was one of the group that joined in forming the First African Baptist Church.

Career When Sublett died in 1858, his heirs threatened to sell Lucy and her children to different masters. She was able to negotiate with merchants who purchased her children and allowed them to live with her as long as they showed up for work daily. The sole exception was a daughter who was sold to owners in Tennessee. The knowledge that they could be separated made the Brookses work hard to try to buy the freedom of Lucy and the children. Her new master, Daniel Von Groning, who also owned her three youngest boys, allowed Albert to pay for their freedom in installments. It took four years, but on October 21, 1862, their deed of manumission was signed. The older three boys were not freed until the Civil War was ended. though its current focus is to provide childcare and family support services to low- and moderate-income families.

Brooks died on October 7, 1900, in Richmond, Virginia, and she was buried in the Mechanic's Cemetery of Richmond. A book about her life was published in 1989.