Rev. Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks-former pastor of Greater Middle Baptist Church (Memphis, TN) and Greater New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church (Detroit, MI), former FCC Commissioner, former Executive Director of the NAACP, World War II veteran, retired Judge and Civil Rights Pioneer, passed away on Thursday, April 15, 2010. Dr. Hooks attended LeMoyne College (present day LeMoyne-Owen College) and was a graduate of DePaul Law School. He was the first black FCC Commissioner and the first black Criminal Court Judge in the South since Reconstruction. The visitation will be held at Greater Middle Baptist Church, 4982 Knight Arnold Road, on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 from 12 Noon until 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Temple of Deliverance C.O.G.I.C., 369 G. E. Patterson Avenue, on April 21, 2010 at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Frances Dancy Hooks; his daughter, Patricia Hooks-Gray; a brother, Raymond Hooks; a sister, Mildred Hooks Gillis, two grandsons, loving great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild, a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis or to Greater Middle Baptist Church. Donations to the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change may be sent via the website http://benhooks.memphis.edu or by calling (901) 678-3974. Donations to Greater Middle Baptist Church may be sent to the church office, 4982 Knight Arnold Road, Memphis, TN 38118 or by calling (901) 367-0103. Arrangements by: R. S. Lewis & Son Funeral Home (901)526-3264