Lucy Goode Brooks was born a slave in Virginia. When her master died in 1838, she became the property of a man named Sublett; shortly after he allowed her to marry another slave, Albert Royal Brooks. 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. Her new master, Daniel Von Groning, who also owned her three youngest boys, allowed Albert to pay for their freedom in installments. On October 21, 1862, their deed of manumission was signed; the older three boys were not freed until the Civil War was ended.
Brooks was the leader of the Ladies Sewing Circle for Charitable Work and also founded the Friends' Asylum for Colored Orphan. The orphanage opened in 1869; it is still operational and functions as the Friends Association for Children. Brooks died on October 7, 1900 in Richmond, Virginia.
