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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.
on Jan 20, 2010