Eddie Paul Brewer

Mr. Eddie “Paul” Brewer, 82, of Bradyville, Tennessee went on to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. He was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee on Monday, April 12, 1943. Preceding him in death were his parents, Eddie Brown Brewer and Callie Wilson Brewer; brother, Doug Brewer; and sisters, Helen Long and Evie "Tessie" or "Tooter" Brewer.

He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Wanda Carolyn Gilliam Brewer of Bradyville; son, Glen (Sherry) Brewer of Chapel Hill; daughter, Vickie Lynn Wallace of Alabama; step-son, Scottie (Christy) Sissom of Bradyville; step-daughter, Rhonda (Jay) Spry Womack of Bradyville; sister, Judy Burgess of Kentucky; brother-in-law, Gary Wendell Cawthorn of Bradyville; grandchildren, Brianna (Ben), Lyndsey, Alicia (Chase), Amber, Ashley, Desiree, and Madyson; step-grandchildren, Amber (Benjie), Andrea (Justin), Abbey (Jimmy), Justin, Brady, Maleah, and Baylee; 11 great grandchildren with another on the way; several special nieces and nephews; and many musician and Senior Center friends.

Paul grew up as any good country boy would. He went coon hunting with his dad, and when his dad couldn’t get him out to go fishing, he casted a line with his Grandpa Wilson. Church was also central to the Brewer family way of life and quickly became a place Paul would cherish throughout the rest of his life.

Growing up in Rutherford County afforded the Brewer family many unique experiences. Paul liked to tell the story of going into the Smyrna Pool Hall with his dad and coming out only to find their ’55 Chevrolet had been stolen. Though Paul found it a humorous tale, his rendition of the Brewer family size might have earned a few more chuckles. At one time, there were enough Brewers in Smyrna to make up their own full-roster, softball team.

That family togetherness between cousins brought about many good times playing card games, like Rook and Rummy, but that didn’t mean there weren’t hard times for the Brewer family. Even though the United States economy was pulled out of the Great Depression by the post-war boom, that didn’t mean everywhere was booming. Paul left high school before graduating to go into the work force because it was still a time you did what had to be done.

Talented working with his hands, Paul took up carpentry as his trade. He could do framing, roofing, and just about anything in between, but he didn’t limit himself to just construction. Dirt track and NASCAR racing caught Paul’s attention, and he worked on a pit crew sponsored by the Chevrolet Company in Nashville at the Smyrna Track. Really though, any racing would do for him, and he even got featured in the newspaper as a Slot Track Champion.

Outside of work and racing, Paul enjoyed eating and watching the Atlanta Braves. A true country boy, Paul wanted the good stuff – hamburger steak, patty melts, fried catfish, pinto beans, cabbage, fried potatoes, and anything else that fell into old fashioned country cooking. He aimed to share this sentiment with Glen and Vickie, cooking all the time and making sure they got a true All-Star Breakfast.

Paul also wanted his children to have just as eventful and active of a childhood as he had with more opportunities and less obligations. His goal was to be a good father, and that meant being active in their lives. Just about any sport Glen and Vickie played, Paul signed up to be the coach. It didn’t matter whether it was baseball or basketball. Paul was in the dugout or on the sideline instructing and cheering his kids on.

And, of course, any Brewer couldn’t have a full childhood without going fishing and dogs. Paul took them to the creek and camping as much as he could, and he really tried to convince them he didn’t mind if they stirred up the water and went for a swim. Glen let him know really quick that he wasn’t geared for creek swimming, but both children enjoyed having a slew of dogs throughout their childhood whether they were coon dogs or not.

Now, being a country boy was a big part of Paul’s life, but you can’t have the full picture without knowing his real passion lied in music. An excellent musician, Paul played the guitar, piano, bass, and several other stringed instruments, and he had the hair to go with it! Brylcreem might have made a fortune off Paul because he still had cans laying around. He kept his hair slicked back and had the full Elvis hairstyle.

Though he was a big dreamer when it came to the lottery, music was something that Paul had a down-home mindset about. He sang and played with numerous groups over the years, but his church groups held a spot close to his heart. That became all the truer when he connected with Wanda at the Hoodoo Church of the Nazarene singing group. Getting a little carried away with his flirting, he about knocked her off the church’s porch, but somehow, he made it work in his favor.

The two had known one another since their school days, but they had parted ways then. Over the next 40 years, they only saw one another twice before hitting it off at singing group. They had gospel CDs recorded, and it worked out that even though Paul couldn’t pick a favorite hymn, his signature song was “Using My Bible for a Roadmap.” Their years of worship and praise together never seemed like long enough. Paul made a point to lay it on thick, telling Wanda it “took 40 years” for him to find her, but don’t worry, Wanda made sure to get him back and ruffle his feathers.

Though they primarily did gospel music together, the duo would also do gigs at the Senior Citizen’s Center at Manchester and Pocahontas, or “Pokey,” as Paul liked to call it. Wanda had a routine for “You Ain’t Woman Enough to Take My Man,” running her fingers through Paul’s hair. Though he was friendly and social, this was an area he got shy and reserved. Maybe it was him worrying his Brylcreem wouldn’t hold up to the tussling, but he got all the more wide-eyed when a woman from the crowd came up and planted a kiss on him as a joke. Needless to say, Paul wanted to keep performing that song to a minimum, but Wanda and his kids all got a good laugh.

Paul kept the good times rolling through other avenues with his quirks. His taste in food didn’t change, and you weren’t getting him into a Mexican or Chinese restaurant. So, if the family went out to eat, they knew the options were Emma's in Manchester, Cracker Barrel, Waffle House, or a catfish place. He also didn’t give up hope on his lottery tickets. Even when he got where he couldn’t see, Paul would play the scratch-off tickets, vigorously scratching and then holding it up for someone else to tell him if he’d won or not.

There were other ways that Paul’s character never changed. Church and family stayed central to his life. Over the years, he and Wanda attended at Hoover’s Gap, Hollow Springs Community Church, and Smith Grove Church of Christ until his health prevented him. Through all his struggles, he made sure his family knew he loved them. There were little things. For instance, if Glen’s work made a vehicle, like a Cadillac, Paul would tell Wanda how he dreamed of owning it. He still wanted to be an involved and supportive dad however he could.

It didn’t matter to Paul whether you were his baby, a grandbaby, or a fur grandbaby, he loved you. It earned him the endearing nickname, “Paps.” Though the family mourns the absence of Paul from their lives, they know Heaven gained a heartfelt singer, and they look forward to the day when all of God’s singers get home.

Visitation will be held at Gentry-Smith Funeral Home on Monday, May 26, 2025 from 4-8 pm. Funeral services will be Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 2 pm in the Gentry-Smith Funeral Home chapel. Bro. Ricky Duke will officiate. Interment will be in Gilley Hill Cemetery.

Share memories and condolences at www.gentrysmithfuneralhome.com Gentry-Smith Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Rd. Woodbury, TN 37190, 615-563-5337 Because every life has a story