The Robert and Emiline Brewer Family Website

Houston Ezekiel Brewer was born January 16, 1884 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. He was the 10^th child of Robert and Emiline Brewer. Houston was married to Rosa Butler, and the two of them had eight children. Though Houston was considered to be a very good-looking and jolly man, he was especially known for his extraordinary speaking abilities. He was often invited to speak at different community functions. In fact, he was a popular speaker at Claflin University’s annual conferences in Orangeburg, S.C.

Houston could have been called a “jack of all trades.” Although his main occupation was that of a farmer in Pageland, he and his wife, Rosa, once ran a small store and restaurant that served workers from the Rock Quarry. Houston also taught for a while at the Oak Hill School.

His wife, Rosa, often referred to her husband as the “chimney corner lawyer” because folks would come to him for advice. Houston never became an attorney; however, his talents were undoubtedly passed down to his eldest son, Seymour, who became the attorney in the family.

Rosa was known for her lovely flowers and scrumptious cooking. People came from all around the town to admire her flowers. And being the generous woman that she was, she would sometimes offer them a little bit of food. Of course, it was probably too hard to turn down such an offer. Some of the older people that remember “Aunt Rosa” today, especially some members of the Watts’ family, still talk about her beautiful yard and delicious food.

Presently, the old home place of Houston and Rosa still stands on Brewer Road in Pageland.

Submitted by Vanessa Brewer-Tyson

Children:  Annie Brewer Hechavarria (Ramon), Seymour (Marietta), Ethel Brewer Withers (Ambrose),  Houston (Chi-Chi), Christopher (Ivy), Paul (Effie), Lorenzo (Vera), and Marion (Barbara).

Grandchildren:  Houston III ,  Margaret (?), Christopher Brewer Stevenson, Rose Marie Brewer Little (deceased), Simone Brewer, Paul Brewer Jr., LaVerne Brewer Bullock; Lorenzo Brewer Jr. (deceased), Gerald Brewer (deceased), Denize Brewer,  Margo Brewer (deceased), Vanessa Brewer Tyson, Janet Brewer Minor, Stephen Brewer, Marion Brewer Jr., Baretta Brewer Wilson, and Corin Brewer Buskey.

Great Grandchildren:  Sharon, Cristel, Christine, Raquel (deceased), Malik, Remi (deceased), Kwame, Ameerah, Nancy, Paul III, Nicolas, Derek, Micaiah, Obadiah, Ragan, Imean, Kahkuyan, Noni, Metanoya, Kimberly, Christan, Andrew, Curtis, Rasheed, Michael, Jamal, Philip, Brittany and Matthew