A memorial service for Mrs. William Chester Brewer, 95, following her death on Saturday, January 9th, 2021, will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi on January 15th at 11:00 in the morning. Rev. Wiley Lowry, minister of pastoral care at First Presbyterian, Jackson; her nephew, John Trimble Mabray, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Monroe, Louisiana and The Reverend Doctor Derek Thomas, Senior pastor, First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina. For those who are unable to attend, the service will be available by livestream at www.fpcjackson.org/livestream
Mrs. Brewer, the former Lillie Jean Trimble, was born in El Dorado, Arkansas on September 11, 1925. Her parents were Lena Goodwin and John Dyer Trimble, III. She attended Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia and graduated Cum Laude in 1946 from the University of Arkansas where she was president of Chi Omega, which was founded there. In December of 1946, she married Thomas Arnold Turner, Jr. and moved to Jackson in early 1947. They were married for 44 years until his death in 1991. In 1999, she married William Chester Brewer of Jackson, formerly of Clarksdale, Mississippi. They were married for six years until his death in 2005. They had homes in Jackson and Manchester, Vermont. They were faithful attendants at First Congregational Church in Woodstock, Vermont.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson since 1947, having been a cradle member of their denomination in El Dorado. She was honored by her church in Jackson as a lifetime member of the Women in the Church. She served as a Regent at the George Washington Foundation in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She was a past president of the Junior League of Jackson.
She was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, a past board member of the Mississippi Arts Festival, a past president of the Jackson Opera Guild, and a life Member of the Chaminade Club. She was a founding member of the Research Club, the Elsinore Garden Club, the Matrons, Southern and High Noon luncheon clubs, the Playreaders, the Americana Antiques Club, and the Gallery Guild.
She is survived by her son, Thomas Arnold Turner, III of Jackson, her daughter, Susan Turner McMillan and husband Tom of New Orleans, LA, her daughter, Mary Elizabeth Cox and her husband Kelly of Los Angeles, CA; four grandchildren, Emily Turner Moody and husband Bart Remington of Brandon, MS, Thomas Arnold, IV and wife Ellen of Jackson; Meg McMillan Hearding and husband Alex of Durango, CO, and Hunter Hockridge McMillan of Austin, TX; four great-grandchildren, Lillie Aline Moody, Roland Turner Moody, Haley Elizabeth Hearding, and Hannah Robinson Hearding. Also, surviving are precious friends Alex and Vickie Scaramucci and daughter Sophia of Norcross, GA.
She is also survived by four-stepchildren, William Chester Brewer, Jr. (Libbie Delosh) of N. Palm Beach, FL; Elizabeth Brewer Schaffenburg (Karl) of Laurel, MS, Dr. Paul Brewer of Beaufort, SC, and J. Lyons Brewer (Kate) of Atlanta. GA. There are also five step-grandchildren, Dr. William C. Schaffenburg (Erin), Lila Schaffenburg Caves (Risher), Cage T. Brewer, Robert W. Brewer, Ramsey Lyons Brewer, four step great-grandchildren, Brewer G. Caves, Eva G. Schaffenburg, Sarah Frances Caves and Virginia Elizabeth Caves.
Other survivors are many cherished nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Rebecca Goodwin Turner of Jackson; sisters Betty Trimble
Mabray of Monroe, LA and her husband Jack P, Mabray , Mary Trimble Maier of Fayetteville, AR, and Manchester, VT, and her husband John L. Maier, Jr., and their daughter Nancy Maier, nephew, John D. Trimble V of El Dorado, AR, and her brother John D. Trimble of El Dorado, AR and his wife Robin Berry Trimble. The family wishes to give special thanks to Danyale Ball Sinclair.
Memorials may be sent to French Camp Academy, Reformed Theological Seminary, First Presbyterian Church, First Congregational Church of Woodstock, VT, or a charity of one's choice. A private burial will be held following the service at the family cemetery at Somerset Plantation in Newellton, LA.
