James William Brewer

Bill is survived by his beloved children, William Ashby Brewer and Natalie Elizabeth Brewer; sister, Rebecca Brewer Carter (Phil); the mother of his children, Laura Ashby; and devoted companion, Babs Young Behar. He is preceded in death by his parents, James Harold Brewer and Elizabeth Petree Brewer.

Bill attended H.G. Hill Elementary, Hillsboro High School, Battle Ground Academy, and Brentwood Academy. He graduated from Belmont University with a degree in accounting. He began his professional life as a financial controller at HCA International before following in his father’s footsteps to pursue residential construction and real estate. He was a third-generation realtor, maintaining his TREC license for forty years and most recently was the owner of BG4 (Brewer Group IV).

Bill was a man of faith. He was baptized as a young boy at Belmont Heights and raised his family at Vine Street Christian where he was a deacon and served on the general board. Most recently, Bill is a member of Westminster Presbyterian. He donated his time to many organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Boy Scouts, Middle Tennessee Homebuilders, Greater Nashville REALTORS, and Room in the Inn. He assisted many friends and people in need, such as several Nashville flood victims, with his excellent general knowledge of construction, painting and carpentry work. Bill had a special place in his heart for the homeless: his last act on earth was spent purchasing supplies for them.

His children were the pride and joy of Bill’s life. When his children attended school, he enjoyed supporting their school activities and interests in numerous ways and was known for his delicious chocolate chip cookies. The legacy of Bill's love for music, travel, history, space, sports, and nature will continue to live on through them. His free spirit is a part of them, and he instilled in them that the only currency that really matters is love.

Bill was a passionate and vocal Tennessee Titans fan, as well as one of the original PSL holders. He was also a lifelong (and often suffering) Vanderbilt sports fan. He was an avid golfer and was a member of Richland Country Club for many years. Bill loved music: he played the guitar and supported the local live music scene, particularly bands playing at 3rd and Lindsley.

There was nothing that Bill liked better than an interesting conversation with a good (or new) friend, and he thrived on the exchange of interesting or provocative ideas. He traveled extensively throughout his life, but regardless of where he went in the world, his favorite respite was the Smoky Mountains where he serendipitously spent his last full day hiking his favorite trail: Chimney Tops.

A memorial service will be held Friday, November 9, 2018, at twelve thirty at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3900 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN. Visitation and gathering of family and friends from ten o'clock until the service begins on Friday.

Interment at Woodlawn Memorial Park

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." --Abraham Lincoln