Janet Hooks, former Memphis city councilwoman, has died at 70

Janet Hooks, a special advisor to the Shelby County Clerk and former Memphis City Councilwoman, passed away Oct. 10 at 70. Hooks was appointed to her position in Shelby County government in early April.

Hooks served on the Memphis City Council for 16 years and also served in Mayor AC Wharton’s administration as the Director of Parks and Neighborhoods. She also served the city when Myron Lowery took over as mayor pro tempore after the resignation of former Mayor Willie Herenton in 2009. Hooks is survived by her husband, former Shelby County Commissioner and County Assessor Michael Hooks, Sr.; a daughter, Kristin Hooks; two sons, Michael Hooks, Jr., and Marcus Hooks; a daughter-in-law, Judge Kenya Hooks; and two granddaughters, Morgan and Miranda Hooks.

Local elected officials react

The Shelby County Commission held a moment of silence for Hooks during its first committee meeting Wednesday morning. Commissioner Mickell Lowery also posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he "admired" the work Hooks has done. Commissioner Mick Wright also took to X, posting a photo of her as well as a short message saying "Life is short. Rest in peace."

As the morning went on, a growing list of reactions from locally elected officials were posted on social media. Former Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer also took to X to express her sympathy. Sawyer was referenced in the announcement of Hooks' death as a "special second daughter."

Sawyer said Hooks "stepped in when my mom passed last year for me in so many ways. I'll never forget her. Love you Gran Jan."

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert posted to Facebook she was devastated over the loss of Hooks. She wrote about Hooks' hard work and dedication to her advisory of the County Clerk's Office.

State Rep. Antonio Parkinson, who represents a part of Memphis, said on X that Hooks greeted people "with a genuine warm embrace and her infectious smile."

"She watched and helped to guide me through my days of serving at the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission, and I am grateful to her for that and her many more acts of selflessness," he said.

City of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland Tweeted that Hooks' "memory will forever be in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing her."

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen released a statement following Hooks' death. Cohen said that the two were long-time friends, and he attended her wedding.

"Beautiful and friendly, she was a devoted spouse and was dedicated to her family. Hers was a life well lived," Cohen's statement read.

Hooks family political and influential dynasty

Hooks was first elected to the Memphis City Council District 4 seat in 1991. She held that seat until 2005 when she resigned to take a position within the Herenton administration.

Hooks worked for the office of multicultural and religious affairs and later went on to head the parks and neighborhoods division. She served in that position into Wharton’s administration.

Hooks married Michael Hooks Sr., who comes from a long line of elected officials and influential Memphians dating back to the 1870s.

Julia Britton Hooks, known as the "Angel of Beale Street,'' was a musician and educator who became an early champion of civil rights. Her grandson, Benjamin Hooks, rose to prominence during the civil rights movement. In 1965, he was appointed criminal court judge, becoming the first Black judge in a court of record in Tennessee since Reconstruction. President Richard Nixon appointed him in 1972 as the first black member of the Federal Communications Commission, and he served as the national director of the NAACP from 1976 to 1992.

Hooks' stepmother, Rosetta Miller-Perry, founded The Tennessee Tribune and was also a federal observer for the U.S. Civil Rights Commission during the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike.

Through her time as a Memphis city councilwoman, Hooks was a champion for seniors and took on a review of evictions in Memphis. She left civil service in 2016 only to be called back to oversee Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home and memorial service details will be shared in the coming days. The family is grateful for the immediate outpouring of prayers and remembrances, they said in a statement.

Brooke Muckerman covers Shelby County Government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at 901-484-6225, brooke.muckerman@commercialappeal.com and followed on X/Twitter @BrookeMuckerman.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Janet Hooks, who served as a Memphis city councilwoman, has died