Roy LaVerne Brooks, a former vice chairwoman of the Texas Democratic Party and candidate for public office, died Tuesday at a hospital in Houston, Steve Maxwell, party chairman, said Tuesday. She was 59.

Maxwell said Ms. Brooks was being treated at the MD Anderson Cancer Center when she died.

"Her dedication to the Democratic Party goes back many years," Maxwell said. "Roy LaVerne was the kind of person you saw at every party function. She had a tremendously spirited and wonderful dedication to helping other people."

Ms. Brooks was vice chairwoman of the party in 2006-2008, and also served on the board of the Fort Worth Transportation Authority.

As a candidate, she ran unsuccessfully for state representative and justice of the peace, and for chairwoman of the Texas Democratic Party.

In 2012, she lost an unusual race for county commissioner against a candidate with a similar name -- Roy C. Brooks.


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