Born to James Upshaw Crenshaw (a gentleman farmer and city clerk) and his wife, Mozelle Gillentine (a nurse), Brevard graduated from high school and college in Tennessee and later hitchhiked to San Francisco, California, becoming a headline performer at the famous "drag club", Finnocios, performing as Marilyn Monroe live. Monroe reportedly came to see one of Brevard's shows due to the rave reviews. Brevard died of pulmonary fibrosis after a short period in hospice care. Brevard's only immediate survivor was a sister.