In Memory of

Randell

Johnson

Brewer

Obituary for Randell Johnson Brewer

Randell “Randy” Johnson Brewer passed away at home on Friday 28 September 2018, in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Mr. Brewer was born in 1946 in Marianna, Florida, the son of J. Olin Brewer and Mary Eugenia “Gigi” Johnson. He graduated from Marianna High School before serving with 1st Cavalry Med-Evac and 101st Airborne in Vietnam from 1967 to 1970. He was at A Shau Valley, Khe Sahn, Denang, and Hue. His medals include the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and two Purple Hearts. He later attended West Florida University and worked in Special Education at the Margaret K. Lewis School in Panama City, Florida. Wartime injuries forced early retirement, and he moved to Biloxi in 1992. He and Gary Taylor became partners in 1993 and were married in 2014.

A lifelong Methodist, he was a member of Beauvoir UMC of Biloxi, where he served as Chairman of the Trustees Committee, and later of Leggett UMC of Biloxi, where he served as Chairman of the Pastor-Parrish Relations Committee and worked to rebuild the church following Hurricane Katrina. He was a member of The 1st Cav. Med-Evac Reunion Association, The 1st Cav. Division Association, and The Military Order of the Purple Heart. He enjoyed fast cars, high-powered guns, military history, gardening, and he was a hell of a cook. Many benefited from his generosity.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a younger, still-born brother, all of Marianna, Florida; and a younger brother, Jerry Sims Brewer, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He is survived by Gary Taylor, partner and spouse of twenty-five years; sister-in-law Marie Gandy and her husband John Gandy, of Pascagoula; and cousins Mary Brewer Dugan, Paige Cavanaugh, and John “Ship” Brewer, all of Marianna, Florida; as well as many loved ones, friends, animal companions, and honored and beloved brothers-in-arms.

A memorial service will be held at Leggett United Methodist Church, 1410 Beach Blvd, Biloxi MS 39530 at 2 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. Visitation will be from 1pm until the service begins at 2 pm. Inurnment will be held at the Biloxi National Cemetery will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations should be made to J.T. Leggett UMC at the same address.

Share your memories and send condolences to the family at www.smfs.us