Family
My wife Debi Shewbrooks makes it to the track on occasion to root the team on.
My dad, Captain Jack Shewbrooks
Jack Shewbrooks
My mother Mary Jayne Porter Shewbrooks and brother Steve
Mother in 1955. Our mother died on June 24, 1965
Step mother Edna Ruth Shewbrooks
Got two great step brothers Sandy Weeks (left) and Mike Weeks (r)
Brothers and Sisters
Brother Steve Shewbrooks left, sister Ruthie Cook, John Shewbrooks, and Mary "Corky" Reynolds in Annapolis, Maryland
John (L), sister Corky, and brother Steve (R)
Daughter April with husband Richard
Grandsons Ben (left) Jack and RJ (right)
Son Patrick Allen Maxwell
Daughter-In-Law Natalie
Debbie Webb Shewbrooks
Debbie Webb Shewbrooks was my first wife who passed away at the young age of 39 years old. She was born on February 17, 1950, in Portsmouth, Ohio, to parents Jack and Mary Webb. She was an avid dancer and was a majorette at Clay High School. Debbie was dedicated to caring for her mother who was seriously injured in an auto accident, later married, and had her daughter April Kegley Johnson on August 27, 1976.
Debbie and I met in 1981 and dated for five years. She moved to Jackson, Ohio, shortly after we met. We were married on August 2, 1986. In 1988 Debbie was diagnosed with cancer. Later that year, she earned her degree in Business from Ohio University. She died on July 28, 1989. Daughter April (below) is raising her four children, was a flight nurse on a medical helicopter, works as an Emergency Room nurse, and is a nurse practioner.
April Kegley Johnson
My dad, Jack Shewbrooks (L) raced 1/2 midgets and inboard hydroplanes. He enjoyed racing at Lake Maggorie near St. Petersburg, Florida. Here we are enjoying time after the races at the Holiday Inn with my sister Corky and her daughter Paula. Dad died on October 23, 2003 at 85 years old.
Sister Corky and Me
Sister Corky and I in Florida
Rosa Mae Gaston Thurston
Rosa Mae helped raise my sister Corky and I in south Florida back in the 1950's
Thurston, Rosa Mae Gaston, the matriarch of the Thurston family passed away at home on May 1, 2005 after a long illness. She was born May 4, 1913 in Pitts, Georgia. Rosa Gaston moved to Pompano Beach as a young girl in 1922 when her family migrated to Pompano to work in the vegetable fields of Western Broward. She attended Pompano Beach Colored School which later became Coleman School. She married the late James C. Thurston Sr., an immigrant from Cat Island Bahamas; and to this union, thirteen children were born. Rosa Thurston worked as a domestic and her husband worked as a butcher, farmer and custodian. James Thurston retired as head custodian from Ely High School in 1975. He passed away in 1978. Rosa Gaston Thurston was the Charter Matron (President) of the Harmony Chapter of The Eastern Star. The Eastern Stars honored her at its annual Banquet in February of this year by naming its scholarship fund in her honor. She was a life long member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Pompano Beach where she taught the same Sunday School class for over forty years. She worked tirelessly at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. She has been recognized many times for her contributions and commitment to the church community and believed education was the great equalizer and pushed her children to get as much education as possible. Her children have been community leaders in civic affairs, housing and education. Some of her children and grandchildren have had careers which includes teaching, nursing, mortgage banking, barbers, attorney, journalist, actors, and business owners. Rosa Mae Thurston is survived by 12 of her 13 children; Alfred Thurston (Juanita), James Thurston Jr. (Maebell), Theodus Thurston Sr. (Pearl), Perry Thurston, Sr. (Vernerva), Margaret Ricks (Billy-deceased), Joyce T. McGirt, Larry Thurston (Josephine) all of Pompano Beach, FL, Leona T. Sumpter of Quincy, FL, Percy Thurston - deceased (Queen) of Deerfield Beach,FL, Rosetta T. Branch(Leon-deceased) of Brooklyn, NY, Henry Thurston Sr. (Muriel) of Atlanta, GA, Darlene Thurston, Ph.D. of Jackson, Mississippi and Kenneth Thurston (Victoria) of Lauderhill, FL. She is also survived by 4 generations of offspring and a host of nieces and nephews. A viewing will be held Friday, May 6, 2005 from 6PM to 9PM at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, 800 NW 8th Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33060. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 7, 2005, 11:00AM at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.
End of a Chapter
Dogs are family
Cocoa loved her back yard. She is missed.
Lucky
This is Lucky Whitepaw. She is my stray dog that showed up in our neighborhood around 2013. I adopted her. She spends much of her time sleeping on the couch in my race shop.
Dolly
Dolly as a puppy.