He was born and reared in Dyersburg, TN, the son of the late William Alvis Brassfield and Della Augusta Grisswell. He entered the U.S. Army in 1952 and served in the Korean War. After the war he worked at a meat processing plant. He liked playing Domino's and horse raceing.
He is survived by 4 brothers Leon Brassfield, Chuck Brassfield, Bill Brassfield and Wyan Essary. He was preceded in death by a brother Welton Brassfield.