Betty C. Brewer

Betty Cockrill Brewer, 95, of Frederick, Maryland passed away on February 21, 2024. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 12, 1928.  Betty graduated from Memphis Technical High School and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and did graduate work in Special Education at Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis). She married John Nolan Brewer, Jr. at Springdale Methodist Church in Memphis on her birthday in 1949.

Betty taught first grade and special education in the Memphis City Schools. She was the first special education teacher in Memphis. For many years she owned and directed a kindergarten at Underwood Methodist Church in Memphis. After moving to Frederick Betty started and owned B&J Associates Property Management Company.

A lifelong Methodist, Betty was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Frederick, where for 28 years she taught Sunday School for the Wide Awake Class. She was also a member of the Friendly Circle Class and the Wesleyan Circle at CUMC.

Betty enjoyed a wide range of interests throughout her life, including making ceramics, leather tooling, gardening and playing golf and bridge. She and her husband belonged to the Thurmont and Woodsboro dance clubs. Betty served as a local tour guide for the Tourism Council of Frederick County. She belonged to the Rainbow Belles and was honorary member of the Elks Club and the American Legion. For many years she was an active member of the Mt. Pleasant Ruritan Club.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, John N. Brewer, Jr., her parents, Elijah L. and Iona Cockrill, and two brothers, Elijah Lacy Cockrill, Jr. and Benjamin T. Cockrill. She leaves behind a son, John Nolan Brewer, III, of Martinsburg, WV; a daughter, Lois Jean Brewer (Roy) Barnes of Brentwood, TN; and a granddaughter, Caren Elizabeth Barnes (Mark) Lyons of Antioch, TN.

The family will receive friends at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick, MD on March 2, 2024 between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m., with a service at 2:00 p.m. Interment service immediately follows at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Calvary United Methodist Church, 131 W. 2nd St., Frederick, MD 21701 or to the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University and Medicine. You may donate by mail to: Wilmer Eye Institute, 600 N. Wolfe St., Wilmer 112, Baltimore, MD 21287. Please enclose a note with the donation indicating “Making a gift in memory of Betty C. Brewer in support of Dr. Solomon’s research at the Wilmer Eye Institute.” Or donate online at  https://secure.jhu.edu/form/givenow. Select "other" for the gift designation drop-down, then enter the same above note text in the description box.