1 Photo
Barbara Elizabeth Brewer Person of Bridgehampton died, after a brief illness on August 31, 2018, at Park Avenue-Extended Care Facility in Long Beach. She was 80.
Born on September 30, 1937, to the late Fannie Square and Thomas Brewer in Queens, she spent her youth with her grandparents, Maynard and Gladys Square, in East Hampton, where she started school, later moving to Bridgehampton School. Her freshman year she attended boarding school at the historic Nannie Burroughs School, a national trade and professional school for women and girls in Washington, D.C. She later returned to Bridgehampton School, graduating in 1956. “The happiest days of my life were in Bridgehampton School,” she was fond of saying, survivors said.
Well-known for her musical talent, she started piano lessons at the age of 7 and thus began her lifelong love of music. She played in the Bridgehampton School band and she has an extensive history of playing for various churches. Consequently, her joy and passion for music gave her the opportunity to play for many concerts, funerals and weddings, including a wedding in Florence, Italy.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton, where she played with the Sunday School Choir starting in 1949. In addition, Rev. Ralph C. Spinner would pick her up to play for his services at the pre-Calvary Cathedral in East Hampton. She also played for the Junior Choir and the Senior Choir.
She married Lewis H. Meacham in 1956. They moved to California and from they had three children: Jacqueline Lattimer, Lewis H. Meacham II and Penny Meacham. During the early 1960s, she continued her musical worship and played for St. Mark’s A.M.E. Church and The Temple of God Pentecostal Church in Los Angeles.
Upon returning to New York in 1969, she reinstated her membership in the local First Baptist Church, and playing for the Senior Choir and Gospel Chorus.
In 1971, she married Willie D. Person, who predeceased her.
Ms. Person continued to provide music for the church and community throughout her multiple retirements. She played for the First Baptist Church pastors from 1949 to 2018, as well as several singing groups, from the Sunday School Choir, to the Youth and Sun Beam Choirs, the Male Chorus, and she assisted with the Harvest Gospel Choir, not to mention innumerable church services. Before her illness, she was the musician for Triune Baptist Church.
Ms. Person was employed by Sears and, briefly, by TJ Maxx. In addition to music, she loved to travel and went on many trips and cruises with her husband, family and friends—especially her long-time friend, Gloria Harris. They attended many Gospel Workshops of America together. She seldom without her video camera, capturing various trips and events. Her favorite sport was computer bowling; she and a group of online friends were in various POGO leagues and tournaments.
She is survived by a son and two daughters, Lewis “Hank” Meacham II (Denise), Jacqueline Lattimer (Waddie) and Penny Meacham; a grandson, Waddie Lattimer III; two step-grandchildren, Andrina Smith and Trumaine Smith; a step-granddaughter, Lillian Smith; a host of family and friends; and two cousins, Rosa Hanna Scott and James Nicholson, who were like her sister and brother to her.
A wake was held at the First Baptist Church in Bridgehampton, followed by interment at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in East Hampton. Arrangements were under the direction of the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.
on Sep 17, 2018