The Willet Family Of Chatham County

The Brewer, Willet, and Stout families are interwoven.  All three lived in Chatham County in the early 1800s.  Branches of these three families moved to Alexander and Iredell County together in the 1860s.  Many members of the Willet family remain in those two counties today.

Varina Eloise Willet Rhyne (1924-2014) was the great granddaughter of John C. Willet and Sarah Ann Stout.  She was a member of the third generation born after the migration from Chatham County.

Jay Van Gussie Dolly Willet (1900-1993), son of Daniel Henry Willet and Margaret Elizabeth Kerley Willet.  Jay Van was the nephew of Mary Elizabeth Willet who married Jerry Milton Lee Brewer.  Below is Jay in his more senior years and then in his younger years.

Daniel Henry (1866-1944) and Margaret "Maggie" Kerley Willet (1860-1939) married in 1890.  Daniel was the brother of Mary Elizabeth Willet who married Jerry Lee Brewer.  Daniel's and Margaret's photo is below.  

Jerry's father, Wiley Brewer, and Mary Elizabeth's father, John C. Willet, both served in the Confederate Army in the Civil War.  Both were taken as prisoners of war.  John survived the war, but Wiley died in a Union POW camp.

Willie Harrison Brewer and Noney Lee Shoemaker Brewer

Willie Harrison Brewer (1918-2003), son of Thomas Benjamin Wiley Brewer.  Noney Lee Shoemaker Brewer (1885-1942), mother of Willie and wife of Thomas Benjamin.

Dewey Samuel Brewer, Jr.

Dewey Samuel "D.S." Brewer, Jr. (1924-2009), son of Dewey Samuel Brewer, Sr., and his wife Mary Kathryn "Kat" Forsyth Brewer (1924-2005)

Kat and D.S. in their younger years

Kathryn "Kitty" Brewer Harrell (1947-2014), daughter of  Dewey Samuel Brewer, Jr., and Mary Kathryn Forsyth.

Mark Leon Estes (1968-2010), son of Kathryn Brewer Harrell and grandson of Dewey Samuel Brewer, Jr.

Descendants of James Robert Brewer (1886-1956)

Lester William "Schooly" Brewer (1911-1990), son of James Robert Brewer, and his wife Margaret Bernice Trexler Brewer (1920-2000).

Betty Mae Brewer Lyles (1916-1992), daughter of James Robert Brewer and wife of James Arthur Lyles.

Wiley Clay Brewer (1920-1966), center, son of James Robert Brewer, with two unknown friends.

Wiley Clay Brewer and his wife, Faye LaVerne Primm Brewer (1929-2006)

Martha Faye Brewer Cockrell (1914-1984) celebrating her birthday.  Martha Faye was the daughter of James Robert Brewer and Bessie Dean Shoemaker and wife of Raymond Dewey Cockrell.

James Bill Brewer

James Bill Brewer (1932-1956), son of Dewey Samuel Brewer, Sr.  Husband of Thelma Ernestine Beasley.  Father of Patricia, Buddy, Teresa, and Freddy.  He died at a young age doing what he most enjoyed, fishing.

 

Teresa Jo Brewer (1954-2006), daughter of James Bill Brewer and Thelma Ernestine Beasley Brewer.

Brewer Family Mini-Reunion, October 23, 2010

The mini-reunion could not have been better.  We met at the Golden Corral Restaurant in Statesville.  We were thrilled to meet members from the Ila Etta Elizabeth Brewer Parker family and the Willet family.  We had 38 or more folks attend.  Everyone was so friendly.  Our ancestors were good folks.

Our Most Senior Brewer and Willet Descendants

These members are the grandchildren of Jerry Lee Brewer and Mary Elizabeth Willet Brewer or the grandchildren of Daniel Henry Willet and Margaret Elizabeth Kerley Willet.  Mary Elizabeth and Daniel Henry were siblings.

Standing: Grace Willet Roberts, Freddie Arnold Brewer, Valle Mae Brewer Rogers, Margaret Louise Brewer Smithey, Bobby Lee Brewer, Louise Parker McMannen, Marjorie Brewer Feimster
Seated: Varina Eloise Willet Rhyne, Edna Smith Stafford, Bristol Irene Brewer Huffman, Gentry Lee Brewer

Descendants of Dewey Samuel Brewer, Sr. (1898-1977) and Mary Emma Lambert (1900-1939) and Evia Margaret Harris Mitchell Brewer (1911-1991)

Standing:  Ronald Calvin Hill, Glenda Marie James Whitehurst, Freddie Arnold Brewer, Vallie Mae Brewer, Margaret Louise Brewer Smithey, Bobby Lee Brewer, James Arthur Burnette, Jr (husband of Brandy), Brandy Elaine Holman Burnette
Seated: Willa Dean Brewer Sigmon, Kaylen Skye Simpson, Judith Irene Brewer Lance, Willa Dean Williams Brewer, Gentry Lee Brewer, Kathryn Brewer Harrell
 

Descendants of Daniel Henry Willet (1866-1944) and Margaret Elizabeth Kerley Willet (1860-1939)

 Standing:  Marilyn "Boots" Rhyne Kerley, Kay Willet Core, Judy Smith Jordan, Phyllis Willet Newcomb
Seated:  Grace Willet Roberts, Varina Willet Rhyne, Edna Smith Stafford

Desendants of Jesse Cicero Parker (1890-1955) and Ila Etta Elizabeth Brewer Parker (1890-1955)

Standing: Shirley Austin Tuttle, Loretta Jarrell Martin, Louise Parker McMannen
Seated: Kristen Pruett and Alice Owens Thomas

Descendants of Joe Sephus Brewer, Sr. (1897-1964)

Michael Kent Brewer and Marjorie Lee Brewer Feimster

Descendant of Thomas Benjamin Wiley Brewer (1882-1952) and Noney Lee Shoemaker Brewer (1885-1942); Descendant of James Robert Brewer (1886-1956) and Bessie Dean Shoemaker Brewer(1888-1964)

Nancy Dianne Brewer Sloop (Thomas Benjamin) and Bristol Irene Brewer Huffman (James Robert)

Family of Ila Etta Elizabeth Brewer Parker and Jesse Cicero Parker

Back Row:  Jesse Cicero Parker (1890-1940), Ila Etta Elizabeth Brewer Parker (1890-1955). Middle Row: Argol Annie Bell Parker, Lois Esther Clementine Parker, Opal Lee Parker.  Front Row:  Jesse Cicero Parker Jr., Jessie Louise Parker.  Picture taken about 1934.

Children of Ila Etta Elizabeth Brewer Parker and Jesse Cicero Parker, left to right:  

Jessie Louise Parker (b. 1929); Lois Esther Clementine Parker (1916-2001); Jesse Cicero Parker, Jr. (1925-1994); Opal Lee Parker (1921-2004); and Argol Annie Bell Parker (1919-1992).  Photo taken in 1959.

Family of  Lois Esther Clementine Parker (1916-2001):  Earlie Columbus Jarrell (1917-1987), wife, Lois, and children: Roger Earl Jarrell (b. 1947), Brenda Faye Jarrell (b. 1943), and Loretta Sue Jarrell (b. 1940).

Herbert Hodges James and Jenny Marie Brewer James

Herbert Hodges James (1913-2008) and Jenny Marie Brewer James (1928-2007), daughter of Dewey Samuel Brewer, Sr.  This photo was taken at the Brewer Family reunion in 1972.

Obituary of Ina E. Brewer (1890-1921)

The following was copied from the Statesville Landmark, April 14, 1921:

"Miss Ina Brewer, Dwarf, is Dead.  Miss Ina Brewer died Tuesday afternoon at the home of her step-parents,  Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Brewer, on Fourth Street, death following an illness of some years.  Funeral services were conducted at the home this morning at 9 o'clock by Rev. T.A. Groce and Rev. Turner Brown.  Interment this afternoon at Pilgrim church, Alexander county.

Miss Brewer was a dwarf.  36 inches in height and her weight was said to have never exceeded 40 pounds.  She was nearly 31 years old and was a native of Alexander county.  She was an attraction exhibited by the Smith Shows and Jones' carnival througout the country.

She is survived by two brothers--S.P. Brewer and M.O. Brewer of Statesville--and one sister, Mrs. Annie Mayberry, of Hiddenite."

Two notes:  John Preston Brewer, was Ina's natural father.  Ina's natural mother, Sarah Catherine Potts Brewer, died two years after Ina's birth.  John Preston Brewer then married Margaret Amelia Carson, and Ina become her step-daughter.  Ina's death certificate indicates she died of "pellagra," which is a deficiency of vitamin B3 (niacin).  The photo below is of Ina:

The next photo shows Ina with her niece,  Anna Brewer (1902-1919), daughter of Shubert Pharis Brewer and Nannie E. Milsaps Brewer.   We have indications that Anna also was a small person.   In this photo, Ina appears to be later in life when she may have been suffering from the effects of pellegra.

Family of Willie (Bill) Harrison Brewer and Jennie Pearl Queen Brewer

Willie Harrison Brewer (1918-2003), son of Thomas Benjamin Wiley Brewer, and Jennie Pearl Queen Brewer (1919-1991).  Photo taken about 1940.

Willie Harrison Brewer and Jennie Pearl Queen Brewer.  Photo taken in 1982.

Jerry Eugene Brewer (1944-1988).  Jerry was named for his great grandfather, Jerry Lee Brewer (1861-1903).  Both great grandson and great grandfather died in their early forties.  Pictured below is Jerry during his high school graduation year of 1962 and during his time in the US Army in 1965.  Jerry served his country as a forward controller in Viet Nam.

William Kenneth "Butch" Brewer (1940-2014), first born of Willie Harrison Brewer and Jennie Pearl Queen Brewer.  The first photo below was taken during his senior year, 1958, in high school.  The second photo was taken in 2014.

lla Etta Elizabeth Brewer

Ila Etta Elizabeth Brewer (1890-1955).  Daughter of Jerry Milton Lee Brewer and Mary Elizabeth Willet Brewer

Ila Etta Elizabeth Brewer in later years.  Still a lovely woman.

Family of Joe Sephus Brewer, Sr.

Joseph "Joey" Barnard Brewer  (1981-2011).  Son of Tony Lynn and Angela Robin Davidson Brewer.

Joe Sephus Brewer, Sr. (1897-1964).  Son of Jerry M. Brewer and Mary Elizabeth Willet Brewer.

Joe Sephus Brewer, Sr., (1897-1964) and fellow World War I US Army soldier, Chester Arthur Mayberry (1895-1979).  Chester was the father-in-law of Edna Pauline Connolly, daughter of Ora Una Brewer Connolly.

Joe Sephus Brewer, Jr. (1922-1971).  Photo was taken when Joe was about 17 years old at Ft. Jackson, SC.

Joe Sephus Brewer, Jr. (1922-1971) and Florence Johnslee Brewer (1920-1988), children of Joe Sephus Brewer, Sr.

Two sons of Joe Sephus Brewer, Sr. served in the US Navy:  Glenn Hillery Brewer (1932-1982) and James Barnard Brewer (b. 1934).  Article from Front & Center in the October 8, 1953 issue of the Statesville Landmark.

James Paul Brewer

James Paul Brewer (1924-2006), son of James Robert Brewer is pictured in his younger days and more senior years.  He served in World War II in the Naval Reserves in the enlisted ranks.  This was followed by his service in the US Navy and Merchant Marines.  He rose to the rank of Captain.

1923: Brewer and Shoemaker Family Members

Noney Lee Shoemaker Brewer (1885-1942), Era Lucrecia Brewer Mayberrry (1900-1968), Newton Marlow (family friend), Mary Ethel Shoemaker Mason (1909-1996)

Bob and Bessie Brewer

James Robert "Bob" Brewer (1886-1956) and Bessie Dean Shoemaker Brewer (1888-1964)

Family of Dewey Samuel Brewer, Sr.

Dewey Samuel Brewer, Sr. (1898-1977) and his second wife, Evia Margaret Brewer (1911-1991).  Dewey's and Evia's children:  Vallie Brewer (in Evia's arms); standing, Freddie Arnold Brewer and Margaret Louise Brewer.  Evia was pregnant with Jerry Dean Brewer at this time.

Mary Emma Lambert Brewer (1900-1939), first wife of Dewey Samuel Brewer, Sr.

Isabelle Percie Brewer (1919-2002), firstborn of Dewey Samuel Brewer, Sr. and Mary Emma Lambert.  

Wayne Joseph Brewer (1926-2004), son of Dewey Samuel Brewer, Sr. and Mary Emma Lambert.

Diedre Yvonna Price Brewer (1929-1980), wife of Wayne Joseph Brewer.  In an interesting family connection, Diedre's mother, Vesta Maybelle Beaver Price (1903-1995) married Arnie Angus Brewer (1900-1981).