logo logo logo logo

News / Obituaries / Southampton Press / 1471753

Claude C. Westbrook of Bridgehampton dies at 76

icon 1 Photo

author on Jan 20, 2010

Claude C. Westbrook Jr. of Bridgehampton died on January 13 at Southampton Hospital following an illness. He was 76.

Born October 23, 1933, in DeWitt, Virginia, to Claude Westbrook and Mary Francis Street, he attended DeWitt Elementary School in Virginia. After his family moved to Southampton, he attended the school in Hayground and Southampton High School. Following high school, he moved to Harlem for a few years, returning to Bridgehampton in the 1950s. He married Diane Johnson in 1962.

He worked at the Philip Downs farm in Water Mill for a number of years, and in 1970 he took a job with Southampton Lumber Company, where he worked until his retirement.

A member of the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton, he was a member 
of the church’s trustee board for 20 years and was also a member of the Gospel Chorus. He was ordained a deacon 
on July 16, 1995, and served until his 
illness.

He enjoyed the company of his many nieces, nephews and friends and singing in the Male Chorus at church.

In addition to his wife, Diane Westbrook, he is survived by a son, Gerald Westbrook; a sister, Stephanie Westbrook; a nephew, Vance Teel and his wife Sonia; two aunts, Queenie Archie and Margaret Williams; and many cousins and friends.

The family received visitors on January 16 at the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton, where a funeral service was conducted by the Reverend Frank Bryant. The eulogy was delivered by the Reverend Sam Fulford. Acting as pallbearers were members of the Male Chorus, William Banks, Calvin Harris, Louis Pinckney, John Bowe, Larry Smith and Horace Lattimore. Interment followed at Southampton Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.

You May Also Like:

Growing Wellness: New Community Garden at Stony Brook Southampton To Offer 'Produce Prescriptions'

Since its creation, the Food Lab at Stony Brook Southampton has been committed to studying ... 14 Nov 2025 by Cailin Riley

In Wake of Immigration Detentions, Advocacy Group Is Left With Many Holes To Plug

While the ICE sweep last week that ensnared a dozen immigrants has sparked outrage and ... 13 Nov 2025 by Michael Wright

Bars Over Southampton Village Hall Windows, Former Jail Cells, Will Be Removed

For some unlucky people, the workplace can feel like a prison. There’s no reason to ... by Cailin Riley

Cleaning Out

There is no setting on binoculars that works in the fog — everything in the distance remains indistinct, and that is fine. Here, the low place, called Sagg Swamp, begins a nearly uninterrupted corridor of unbuilt-upon land: wetlands, ponds and kettleholes; the Long Pond Greenbelt runs for miles to the old harbor. Today, contained, the only fog is there. It rises up from the dark muck to smudge the damp foliage with its dreamy, silver light. So, above, as the crow flies, the air is tinted between gold and pink. Fog is a reoccurring theme, because it reveals a sense ... by Marilee Foster

'Novembrance'

Gaudy October is gone. The November landscape is muted colors, falling leaves and skeletal branches. The month opens with reminders of death. In the Catholic Church, November first is All Saints’ Day. On November 2, All Souls Day is dedicated to praying for the souls of the departed. The Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead is celebrated on the same days but has a more festive air. It’s also observed across the United States. The All-Souls Procession has been an annual event since 1990 in Tucson, Arizona. San Antonio, Texas, is known for its Muertos Fest and river ... by Denise Gray Meehan

A Bright Spot

There were strong Democratic victories nationally in last week’s election, led by Mikie Sherrill winning the governorship of New Jersey, and Abigail Spanberger winning the governorship of Virginia, and other Democratic wins seen as involving clear anti-President Donald Trump viewpoints. In Suffolk County, we were in the viewing area in which a torrent of TV commercials were broadcast in the race between Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who in most of them stressed his staunch support for Trump. Although the race was predicted to be tight, Sherrill won by a large margin. This and other successful Democratic contests are being ... by Karl Grossman

Southampton Police Reports for the Week of November 13

QUOGUE — Mark Magness, 55, of Rockville Center was arrested by Quogue Police on November 6 and charged with aggravated DWI, a misdemeanor. Police pulled Magness over at 7:51 p.m. after receiving a report of a reckless and erratic driver traveling east on Montauk Highway. They located the vehicle in question, and observed the vehicle failing to maintain the lane of travel, as well as no rear marker lights on. A traffic stop was conducted; the operator was found to be intoxicated. He was arrested for DWI, with a blood alcohol level over .18, police said. He was arraigned the ... 12 Nov 2025 by Staff Writer

Assemblyman Shiavoni To Talk About Critical Issues on 'East End Live'

New York State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni will engage in a conversation about critical issues ... by Staff Writer

Meet the New Southampton Town Trustees, Not the Same as the Old Trustees

In an election cycle in which none of Southampton Town’s top offices had competitive races, ... by Michael Wright

Behind the Masks

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions are taking place across the United States, and not just in urban areas, as we discovered on the South Fork last week. But the most alarming thing about ICE raids is the aggressive nature, and the lack of transparency. Many ICE agents are making arrests while wearing masks — they will say it’s because agents have been harassed personally when they’re identified by the public. But the masks are symbolic of the entire process, which is markedly different from most police actions. When agents from New York City swept through gathering places on November ... by Editorial Board