HIGHLANDS – Sampson Masonic Lodge No. 231, a veritable institution in this town since 1859, annually honors a local citizen or group with their Community Builder Award for outstanding service to the community.
This year, the award went to Betty Brewer for her involvement in numerous civic causes and organizations.
The award was presented to Brewer by Worshipful Master Travis Major, in a ceremony held last Saturday evening at the Lodge, attended by family, friends, and Masons.
Major and three members of the community that know Betty Brewer well spoke to the audience about her history of service to the community. These were Betty Michalsky, Janette Walker, and Matt Forestiere, as well as Major himself. Each brought their own knowledge of Bettys warmth and spirit to the room, as they told tales of her activities.
Janette Walkers thoughts were typical of the accolades: A Busy Betty Brewer was how she typified the honoree. A person with a heart of love and deep care and concern for others.
The Brewers moved to Highlands in 1967, husband Clovis, Betty, and daughter Charlotte. She kept herself busy with these types of activities: Highlands Church of Christ Benevolence Committee, Highlands PTA room mother, Highlands Youth Booster Club president, Girls Sports Association coach, Highlands Jamboree committees, Highlands Horizons Miss Highlands Pageant committees, Highlands Chamber of Commerce charter member and director, Highlands Rotary Club member, Pilot Club charter member, Stratford Library assistant librarian, and worked as a florist for Barbaras Florists, Bee Hive Florists, and her own Highlands Flourette & Gifts. She presently is employed at Sterling White Cemetery, helping others deal with their grief and loss.
In 1975 she was awarded the Winfree Welch Award for Outstanding Service to Youth of Highlands; in 1983, she was included in the Whos Who of Houston; and in 2005 she won the coveted Terry Davis Award as Citizen of the Year in Highlands.
Matt Forestiere, manager of Sterling White Funeral Home, recalled her passion for her work, and for life in general.
She is into every event in this town, and with a smile said her attitude toward him is Im the boss.
After the awards ceremony, the attendees gathered for a social occasion and refreshments in the Sampson Lodge Building.
Brewers husband Clovis passed away in 1992, but she is close to her family with daughter Charlotte and son-in-law Bill, and two granddaughters Amanda and Ashley.