‘Persistence’ leads to funeral with full military honors for Russellville veteran

A 76 year-old Vietnam Veteran was formally laid to rest at Corinth National Cemetery last week after a four-month saga that came about because of the dedication and persistence of a Franklin County Deputy Coroner and a local motorcycle club.

Avery Brewster, who served in the United States Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 2 and helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, was found deceased in his Russellville apartment on September 4th after Jeff Clark, maintenance worker for Irby Management, was asked by the Russellville Police Department to do a welfare check on Brewster.

Clark, who also serves as a Deputy Coroner for Franklin County, soon realized Brewster had died days earlier. He notified Franklin County Coroner Charles Adcox, who said Clark could go ahead and handle the case since he was on-site already. 

Clark began a search for Brewster’s relatives to contact them and see what their wishes were about how to handle his arrangements. Almost immediately, Clark realized this would be no easy task. 

Clark had Brewster’s body transported to Pinkard Funeral Home for storage until next of kin was notified. Unable to locate any family members, Clark found contact information for a friend of Brewster’s who lives in Virginia. The friend told Clark Brewster had a brother who lived in Michigan, so Clark reached out to him.

Unfortunately, the 83-year-old brother advanced age and deteriorating health prevented him from traveling to Alabama. Additionally, Clark learned the two men had a unique relationship where they did not communicate in person or over the phone. Instead, they emailed each other once a week.

So Clark again was on his own, although he did learn Brewster was honorably discharged from the United States Army, so he contacted the local Veteran’s Administration office for assistance.

Had Clark not made that call, Brewster likely would have been cremated and his remains would have sat on a shelf somewhere with no family member to receive it.

The VA officer told Clark Brewster received an honorable discharge from the Army and he was eligible for full military burial in a national cemetery at no cost.

Clark spoke with Pinkard Funeral Home officials and they eventually agreed to provide a free funeral and casket once they learned the full story about Brewster.

Clark contacted officials at Corinth National Cemetery and was told they would receive Brewster and bury him there after a full military funeral. They would contact Clark with a date soon for Brewster’s funeral.

Before that happened, though, the federal government shutdown began. Cemetery officials told Clark there would be no burials during the government shutdown. 

“So we were stuck in limbo. Mr. Brewster’s body remained in the coroner’s office freezer with no idea when he could be buried,” Clark said. 

When the shutdown ended in November, all cemetery officials could tell Clark was Brewster’s burial date ‘was pending.’ Again, the waiting game continued.

Finally, the call came notifying Clark the cemetery would receive Brewster’s body and his funeral was set for December 11th, nearly four months from the date his body was discovered.

That’s when retired Franklin County Deputy Mark Swindle, who still works for the Sheriff’s Office part-time, and his Patriot Riders motorcycle club got involved. 

Swindle arranged with multiple law enforcement agencies for Brewster’s body to be escorted all the way to Corinth. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office escorted the procession to the state line, where deputies from the Alcorn County, Miss., Sheriff’s Office took over from there, blocking every intersection with traffic lights throughout the escort.

The Patriot Riders club includes several Veterans among its ranks, and the club provided full military honors for Brewster and an escort with bikes decorated with American and state flags.

Brewster’s funeral included his receiving full military honors and the requisite 21-gun salute.

At the conclusion of the funeral, the American flag that adorned the veteran’s casket was presented to Clark, along with shells used in the 21-gun salute.

“I’ll hold them until a family member requests them. And if that never happens, I’ll hold on to them forever. I’m honored to do this for a man who honorably served his country,” Clark said.

The December 11th military funeral came to fruition because of the combined dedication and persistence of Clark and the Patriot Riders, along with assistance from Pinkard Funeral Home and law enforcement agencies along the way. 

Without them, Brewster’s urn would sit on a shelf in perpetuity, something they just would not allow. From day one, Clark was resolved to see the process all the way to a proper end.

“We wanted to see him put to rest with some dignity. I just couldn’t see him thrown in a hole and cremated with his remains sitting on a shelf,” Clark said. “He served his country and we had an obligation to treat him with respect. So at his funeral, we were all his family, and Avery Brewster story concluded with the respect-filled ending he deserved.”

Deputy Coroner Jeff Clark holding the American flag presented to him, along with members of the Patriot Riders.