Carli Brewer Soukup

Carli Brewer Soukup, age 33, of Taylors, South Carolina, went to her eternal rest on June 6, 2021. Born on May 18, 1988 in Queensland, Australia to Brad Brewer Sr. & Wanda Brewer Ickes, Carli is preceded in death by her father, Brad, by her grandmother, Rita Brewer and her grandfather, Jimmy Tsuruda. She is survived by her husband, Ryan Soukup, by her mother, Wanda (Dan) Brewer Ickes, by her siblings, Kenna (Patrick) Millea, Tori Brewer, Bradley Brewer Jr., and Rachel Ickes, by her grandfather, Paul Brewer, by her grandmother, Eleanor Wentworth, by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, by her in-laws, Jeff & Holly Soukup, Kyle (Elizabeth) Soukup, and Caitlyn Soukup (Aaron Hackett), and by a village of family, friends, students (both past & present), colleagues, and loved ones.

Carli was born in the Land Down Under but soon moved with her family to Orlando, Florida in 1990 where they put down roots. She was raised around the golf course and tennis court, which laid the foundation for her success as a scholar-athlete at Olympia High School, Orlando, FL. She continues to hold the school record for most state appearances in athletics (golf and tennis) as well as academics. Upon graduation from Olympia High School in 2006, Carli began her college education at the University of Georgia. She continued her bachelor of arts in Gainesville, Florida receiving a full scholarship as a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship recipient. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2010; she then earned her Masters of Education in Elementary Education from the University of Florida in 2011.

Carli lived her passion as an elementary school teacher: first at Dover Shores Elementary School, Orlando, FL (2011-2013), then at A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School of Engineering, Greenville, SC (2013-2018), and finally at Mitchell Road Elementary School, Greenville, SC (2018-2021). Nominated as “Teacher of the Year” multiple times, and as a Top Ten Teacher for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year at Mitchell Road Elementary, she was clearly admired by her fellow faculty and beloved by her students.  And it’s no wonder why: the “Brew Crew”, the nickname she gave her class each year, felt Carli’s love and care through her creative, outside-the-box approach to education. Students will always remember the smell of Fridays: they brought in a bread recipe to try in Miss Brewer’s bread machine. She built community and filled their bellies. They’ll remember how her own love of competition presented in the classroom through friendly games and challenges that engaged the students while teaching lessons. Colleagues speak with slight envy that Carli didn’t need a discipline protocol because her students were on their best behavior in class thanks to the personal relationships she held with them. 

Carli was flourishing in the classroom, but life got even brighter in 2016 when she met Ryan Soukup. He introduced himself over a beer tap, which was just the entrée into a world of solid friendships, active living, and deep love. Their love for each other was life-giving and it naturally overflowed into loving those around them: hiking and biking trails with friends, taking trips to visit family and explore new cities, and brewing beer to share with others. Ryan discovered that Carli was easy to love; she brought joy and spontaneity to his heart (and to his engineering mind). Ryan gave Carli the gifts of fidelity, constancy, and dry-witted humor that she sought in the man who could finally keep up with her. Carli loved Ryan enough to watch the [opening credits of] Star Wars movies, and he loved her enough to remodel their bathroom with subway tile.

This culminated in loved ones surrounding Carli and Ryan after she accepted his marriage proposal in March 2019, and again when they were married on November 20, 2020 in Greenville, SC. Even the need to postpone their wedding due to a global pandemic couldn’t keep Carli and Ryan down, and they made their home in Taylors, SC. The life of their dreams was just beginning, filled with laughter, their plans of traveling and raising a family, and the beauty of total commitment to one another.

Although she was taken from us far too soon, Carli’s life is the success story of someone with a big heart who lived her passion every day. Without fail, she would notice when a friend was feeling down and would find a way to brighten their day. Her smile, her laugh, and her indefatigable spirit will live on in our hearts forever.

To ensure her loving spirit perseveres, donations may be directed toward Carli’s Legacy.