Horace Henry Brewster, 57, passed away Saturday, July 16, 2016, following a long struggle with liver cancer. Henry was born July 8, 1959, in Jacksonville, Fla., to Marcus Eli Brewster, Jr., and Frances Smith Brewster. Henry was predeceased by his brother, Dr. Marcus E. Brewster, III, who died in 2014. A graduate of Wolfson High School, Henry earned his Bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, where he studied acting and directing. After graduation, Henry performed in Cross and Sword and other theatre productions throughout the state before returning to Jacksonville to perform regularly at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre for more than 20 years.
His many roles at the Alhambra included Doolittle in My Fair Lady and the Lion in the Wizard of Oz. He was a perennial favorite in A Christmas Carol. Henry was close to the family of Tod Booth, former owner and creative force of the dinner theater. He adored Lisa Valdini, Jessie and Tod Jr. and considered them family. His life was the theatre and all actors he loved as kin. The family is grateful to Tod for the dedication of the Saturday show at the Alhambra in Henry’s memory and to Del Austin for his kind suggestion on behalf of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Jacksonville that local theatres dim the lights before a performance to remember their fellow actor.
Henry’s survivors include his companion, Dave Bast, and his aunts, Carolyn Smith Gentry and Wilburta Jane Smith Dixon, and her husband Thomas Cooper Dixon. Other survivors are his cousins, Meredith Gentry, Samantha Eversole, her husband Britt Eversole; Charles C. Gentry, Jr., and his wife Sebnem Kucuk Gentry. He is also survived by his second cousins Charlotte and Sebastian Eversole and Julide and Derin Gentry.
A celebration of life will be at 10 am, Thursday, July 21, at CrossRoad Church UMC, 10005 Gate Parkway North, Jacksonville, 32246.
In lieu of flowers, the family request gifts be made to the Duval Unit, American Cancer Society, 1430 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32207. Donations may be made online at https://donate.cancer.org/index or by calling 1-800-227-2345.
Arrangements under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, Jacksonville, FL.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18