John (Johnny) Lee Brewer Sr., 74, died Friday afternoon, May 27, 2011, of complications from a terminal illness at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 4, 2011, at 2 p.m. at Woodlawn Baptist Church, 2310 Culkin Road, Vicksburg, with a reception to follow the service in the fellowship hall at Woodlawn.

Memorials may be made in honor of Johnny Brewer to Woodlawn Baptist Church, where he was a deacon for many years.

Johnny was born on March 8, 1937, to the late George and Ruby Brewer. He was preceded in death by a sister, Catherine Hancock; and a brother, Arnold Brewer.

Mr. Brewer graduated from Redwood High School, where he lettered in four sports as one of the school’s all-time greats. Following high school, he attended Ole Miss from 1956-60 where he was part of two national championship football teams and named All SEC and All American. After college, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 41st pick. The team won the World Championship in 1964, and he was named All Pro in 1966. He finished his career with the New Orleans Saints from ’68-’70.

Mr. Brewer was inducted into the Ole Miss Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. After football, Mr. Brewer moved on to a long career in the insurance industry.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Anita Wood Brewer; daughter, Jonnita Barrett and her husband, Chad, of Clinton; sons, John Brewer Jr. and his wife, Crissy, of Vicksburg and Sean Brewer and his wife, Margaret, of Ridgeland; four sisters, Louise Ellis and her husband, George, Mary Checkler and her husband, Kerry, Alice Brewer and Shirley Brewer; 10 grandchildren, Tyler and his wife, Katia, Fallon, Drake and Ariana Barrett, John Lee, Hanna, Christopher and Austin Brewer, and Abney and Macey Brewer; and numerous nieces and nephews.