February 14, 1930 - April 22, 2010

 

Frances Louise Smith Brewster, who taught history and social studies in Duval County high schools for nearly 40 years, died at home Thursday of inflammatory breast cancer. She was 80. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4115 Hendricks Ave., followed by a reception.A native of Jacksonville, Mrs. Brewster graduated from Florida State University in 1950 and earned a master of arts degree in teaching from Jacksonville University in 1967.Mrs. Brewster began teaching at duPont Middle School, then a senior high school, in 1950 but left in 1956 when she married Marcus E. Brewster Jr., and began to raise a family. She returned to teaching at duPont after a few years.When Wolfson High School opened in 1968, Mrs. Brewster was among its first faculty. When she retired in 1995, she was the last of the original faculty members. The central corridor of the school was named Brewster Hall in her honor. For many years, Mrs. Brewster sponsored student activities, including the Student Council, and oversaw many high school graduation ceremonies."Frances loved learning and was devoted to her students, whom she referred to as her cherubs," said Carolyn S. Gentry, a sister. "For nearly 10 years she was a national reader of the Advanced Placement tests for United States history."Mrs. Brewster had presided over the Florida Council of Social Studies and was a past president of the Duval County Retired Educators Association. She also was a frequent enactor at the Evergreen Cemetery historic tours.Mrs. Brewster was preceded in death in 1968 by her husband. She is survived by two sons, Horace Henry Brewster of Jacksonville and Marcus E. Brewster III of Beerse, Belgium; and another sister, Jane Dixon of Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Gateway Council of Girls Scouts, 1000 Shearer St., Jacksonville, FL 32205, or Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.