Henry “Buddy” Brewer was born on October 23, 1940, on Sand Mountain in the small town of Grove Oak, Alabama. He was the youngest of 10 children, with a span of 26 years between the oldest child and him. His older siblings called him their little “Buddy.”
The visitation will be Tuesday, November 26, 2024 from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow at 3:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home with Pastor Ethan Boggs officiating. The graveside service will be Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at Mountain View Memory Gardens in Fort Payne, Alabama.
His parents lost 3 children prior to Buddy’s birth, to separate tragic deaths. Later, on January 28, 1951, Buddy’s mother, 2 sisters, his niece, and his brother, who had just come home from the military, perished in a fire that also destroyed their family home. God spared 10-year-old Buddy’s life when his father, in his final effort to save his family, ran into the house one last time and tripped over Buddy, who had passed out. His father threw Buddy out a window just before the roof collapsed in flames. Afterward, Buddy lived with his father, while his 3 older, remaining siblingswere already living in homes of their own.
Buddy grew to be a hard-working young man with a servant’s heart. While still a student, he farmed and cultivated crops with, and later for, his aging father. He worked to purchase his own car while in high school, a luxury most young people at that time did not know. Buddy also worked for a neighbor in his egg business, even making deliveries to Birmingham as a teenager. He graduated from Geraldine High School in 1959.
Buddy worked various jobs, but eventually began work at Kingsbury Homes in Fort Payne, a career that lasted 28 years. He started in a beginner’s position of preparing materials for constructing walls for houses. He eventually worked in every capacity there and was a problem-solver for every department. He made many good friends there and became a skilled carpenter. Meanwhile, he did home renovations and built 3 of his own homes. Buddy continued farming and began raising cattle while working as a carpenter.
Buddy and his wife, June, married in 1978. He became not only a wonderful husband, but an encouraging, loving father to her 3 children, whose father had passed away, on January 28, the same date Buddy had lost his mother many years before. Their instant family bonded through days enjoying the Tennessee River in his boat, water skiing, climbing on rocks, and hiking in the woods. Buddy and June designed and built a new family home in the woods near a creek that had been his childhood playground. Buddy and June worked to build their special home in the woods together with their children, Thomas, Lanita, and Sarah. Thomas worked alongside Buddy, learning carpentry and life skills, while June and Lanita stained wooden doors and trim, and little Sarah drew pictures on the subfloors. In time, their family grew to include their children’s spouses, 10 grandchildren, their spouses, and 10 great-grandchildren.
Kingsbury Homes eventually closed, and Buddy worked at Pair socks and Maewood Sock Mill for 10 years in Fort Payne. Several years later he became custodian at Fort Payne High School, a job he retired from after 10 years. Buddy always had good friends and the respect of those he worked with as a result of his kind, compassionate personality and exemplary work ethic. He set a high standard for those he worked with, exceeding his employers’ expectations.
Buddy was always up for fun adventures, trips, and anything where his kids and grandkids were involved. As a young man, he saw Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Jerry Lee Lewis live in concert. Later in life, he and June traveled tirelessly to ballgames, theatre performances, horse shows, school performances, cheer and baton competitions, camping, hiking, Girl Scout events, graduations, family vacations amusement parks, church events, Grandparents'’ Day celebrations, birthday parties, rock and mineral shows, and more from New York to New Mexico, often with Buddy shamelessly toting his “doll” June’s purse. Buddy welcomed the opportunity for life, love, and laughter with his people.
Buddy valued and enjoyed his family above all else, other than God. He often would say, “We’ve got a wonderful family! Not a rotten apple in the bunch.” Of course, his love and compassion for them, and his devoted unity with his wife, June, grew this special kind of family.
In the final season of Buddy and June’s life together, they made the very difficult choice to move from their beloved Sand Mountain home to live near Lanita and her husband Pat in Columbus, Mississippi. While their move was a tremendous change, Buddy settled into the love that surrounded them at their little cottage. Family continued to be so important, and he cherished every visit from his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren from near and far.
Buddy was a part of Vibrant Church where he was known and loved, attending when he could or watching online with June. His love of and dependence on God was such a part of his life, with him often commenting, “God has been so good to me. I don’t know where I’d be without God.”
As his health continued to decline, Buddy made his last move on this earth, moving from the cottage to Garden Hill Assisted Living facility. At Garden Hill, Buddy found not only the additional care he required, but also dear friends many who became like family, not simply nurses, administrators, and caregivers. The precious women who aided June and his family in caring for Buddy’s daily needs also constantly reminded him that he was special, funny, loved, and never alone.
Buddy’s final move came as a welcomed blessing on early Sunday morning, November 24, 2024, when he left his failing body and mind and was made perfect, healed and whole, and ran into the arms of Jesus.
Mr. Brewer is survived by his wife- June Thomas Whitten Brewer; son- Thomas Whitten and wife Sherry, of Winterville, NC; daughters- Lanita Whitten Davidson and husband, Pat of Columbus, MS; Sarah Whitten McGullion and husband, Dirk, of Rainsville, AL, and Alison Brewer Bowling of Rainbow City; grandchildren- Parker Whitten and wife, Alyssa, of Greenville, NC; Andrew Whitten of Signal Mountain, TN; Anna Davidson Brown and husband, Daniel, of Columbus, MS; Katy Whitten Davidson and husband, Brandon Lutz of Boone, NC; John Patrick Davidson, and wife, Tiffany, of Columbus, MS; Jesse Davidson of Sylva, NC; Tacia Jaime and husband, Gabe, of Cape Coral, FL; Paige McGullion Hancock and husband, Rylee, of Hartwell, GA; John Mark McGullion and wife, Holly, of Houston, TX; Jack McGullion of Rainsville, AL; great grandchildren- Zooey Brewer Hartleroad and Amzi Lutz, Lillian, Jasper, and Davey Brown, Theodore and Adelaide Hancock, Marian Whitten, Isla Jaime, Magnolia Davidson, and host of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be- Thomas Whitten, Pat Davidson, Dirk McGullion, Parker Whitten, Andrew Whitten, John Patrick Davidson, John Mark McGullion, Jack McGullion, Daniel Brown, Brandon Lutz, Gabe Jaime, and Rylee Hancock.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to each person’s church or the charitable organization of their choice.
