DAVID BENJAMIN BREWER, age 75, died Monday, February 17, 2014, at the Charleston Manor.

He was born April 21, 1938, in Cape Girardeau, MO, to the late Benjamin Grinstead and Frances Shelby Brewer. A 1956 graduate of Charleston High School, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Missouri where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and the ROTC. Upon graduation he was stationed for 6 months at Ft. Sill, OK in artillery school then returned to Charleston where he farmed and managed Brewer Farms until 1988. While engaged in farming he served on the Board of Directors for First Bank of East Prairie and First Financial Bancshares. In 1988, he retired from farming and became President of the First Bank of East Prairie until 1996. He was then asked to serve as the interim City Manager of Charleston and the following year, he accepted the permanent appointment as City Manager until his retirement in 2006.

As a member of the Charleston United Methodist Church he served in several committee capacities, was a member of the Charleston Masonic Lodge #407 AF & AM, former member and President of the Charleston Country Club, former Board Member of the Charleston Nutrition Center, had served as a member of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, had served on the Board of Directors and as Secretary of the Big Lake Drainage District, Board Member and President of the Levee District #3, Board Member and Vice President of the Consolidated Drainage District #1, Board Member and President of the Soil and Water Conservation District and President of the MO Association of Soil and Water Conservation, member of the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission, was selected by MO Department of Transportation to serve on the Transportation Action Committee, and was appointed by Governor John Ashcroft to the MO Commission of Infrastructure and Development Opportunities and had been an early member of the James Bayou Cookers.

In 1961, he married Janet Holman who preceded him in death on February 22, 1998. In 2000, he married Virginia Fowlkes, who survives of the home.

Also surviving are one son and daughter in law, David and Lisa Brewer II of Charleston; two brothers, Dr. Nelson (Karol Anne) Brewer of Entonton, GA, and Bill (Janice) Brewer of East Prairie, two sisters, Francie Brunt of Atlanta, GA, and Helen (Mike) Miltenberger of Danville, IA, two granddaughters, Natalie Brewer, a student at Murray State University, and Camille Brewer, a senior at Notre Dame Regional High School; also several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2014, at the Charleston United Methodist Church where funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Rev. David Collum, pastor, will officiate.

Pallbearers will be his nephews, Benjamin Quinton Brunt, Daniel Gibson Brunt, Chase Gibson Brewer, Matthew Spencer Miltenberger, Adam Michael Miltenberger, Nelson Boone Brewer.

Honorary pallbearers will be Hugh Hunter Byrd, Albert Goodin, John Moxley, Homer Oliver, Elott Raffety, Lester Goodin, Sam Smith, Ed C. Marshall III, George C. Grugett, Dave Teeters, Dr. Greg Rodriquez, Ron Gray and Steve Schmid.

Missouri Military Honor Guard will provide Graveside Rites at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Interment will follow under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home.


Memorial contributions may be given to the United Methodist Church, PO Box 351, Charleston, MO 63834 or to VNA Hospice, PO Box 1608, Sikeston, MO 63801.