Alice “Daphne” Cauthen Brewer, 92, passed away peacefully from this life to be with Jesus and many of her beloveds in Heaven on April 14, 2026, at Brightmoor Hospice in Griffin, Georgia. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 18, 2026, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Keith Norris and the Rev. Micah Brewer officiating. Daphne will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Jared Brewer, Nathan Brewer, T. J. Mercer, Thomas Brewer, Andrew Mercer and Benjamin Brewer will serve as pallbearers.
Daphne was born September 8, 1933, in Enigma, Georgia, to the late Wilmer and Lydia Spradley Cauthen. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Jefferson (T.J.) Brewer, Sr.; her three brothers and their wives, Newal and Christine, Arthur and Ruth, and Bob and Audrey; her brother-in-law, Lafoye Pipkin; and her son-in-law, David Johnson. She is survived by one sibling, her sister, Marlene Pipkin.
Graduating in 1950 from Enigma High School, Daphne took a job in Tifton as a telephone operator, which she loved. Even though she planned to never marry and to be a career woman, God had other plans when she met and married T. J. Brewer. The two of them began a huge family and spiritual legacy with their three children, Thomas Jefferson (Jeffery) Brewer, Jr. (Ruth), Pamela Joan Johnson (David), and Marsha Denise Mercer (Thom).
Widowed at age 43 in 1977, Daphne had to step into what was considered a man’s world when she inherited and courageously ran T.J.’s two businesses, Farmers Milling Company and South Georgia Livestock Company. She eventually sold these businesses and retired as a secretary at Garvey & Garvey in Tifton in her sixties.
An avid sports fan, Daphne was a naturally gifted athlete who could have played any sport if she had been given the opportunity. This love of sports has been passed down to most of her family. Her competitive nature and determination helped her face many obstacles in her life. Those who knew her were always surprised by her ability to fix her lawn mower, perform her own plumbing repairs, install household fixtures, and complete many other tasks required by a woman who lived on her own.
Daphne’s life was a wonderful testimony of God’s grace and provision as her family and friends saw great strength, faith, and beauty in her while she faced many troubles, challenges, and joys through the years. Her life of faith was reflected in her endless commitment to churches through the years, particularly Fourth Street Baptist Church in Tifton where she served in many capacities until they closed their doors. Those who have known Daphne have all admired her grace, beauty, and sweetness. She cared about what was going on in other people’s lives.
The greatest legacy that Daphne is leaving behind, that which gave her the most joy, is the loving, large family with which God blessed her. She is survived by 17 grandchildren: Micah Brewer (Sara); Jared Brewer (Michelle); Sarah Howard (Aric); Andrea Hosea (Nathan, Sr.); Nathan Brewer (Elisabeth); T. J. Mercer (Kate); Anna Marie Pavy (E. J.); Lydia Van Pelt (Kyle); Thomas Brewer (Kathryn); Ehren Brasselle (Matthew): Philip Brewer (Morgan); Andrew Mercer (Maddi); Christen Napp (Mat); Caroline Brasselle (Trevor); Benjamin Brewer (Hannah); Leah Hesed (Zach); and Hannah Brewer.
She also leaves behind 46 great-grandchildren. Amazingly, she knew the full names of all her family members and their birth dates.
Daphne’s spirit and kindness will be remembered by all who knew her, a true woman of God who kept her faith to the end and passed it on to her beloved family. She truly lived Psalm 16:6 “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to a charity of choice.