Rev. John Samuel Westbrook, Jr.

Reverend John Samuel Westbrook, Jr. was born into a Christian family on June 6,1944 in Yale, Virginia to the late John Samuel and Ruby Taylor Westbrook. His mother was a Sunday School teacher and his father was Chairman of Trustees at Morning Star Baptist Church in Capron , Virginia. At age 9, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was baptized at Morning Star. Throughout his childhood, John was an active participant in local and regional church activities which included Sunday School, singing in the choir, usher board, various church associations and the Baptist Young People's Union. He graduated as valedictorian of his high school class in 1961 at Southampton County Public Schools. John was a 1965 graduate of Hampton Institute with a Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Mathematics. He was the first in his family to attend college. He became a member of the Gamma Epsilon chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc in 1963. The bond that was formed by the "Supreme Fifteen" has not been broken in over 50 years. He was also a member of the Pershing Rifles. John met his devoted wife, Winnie, at Hampton. On January 23, 1966, John and Winnie were united in holy matrimony and from this union two children were born, John, III and Amy Meredith. John, served his country as 2nd Lieutenant/1st Lieutenant for two years in the U.S. Army, 9th Infantry Division, Vietnam. During his tour of duty he earned the Bronze Star. John retired from IBM after 30 years of service. During his tenure he held numerous positions to include IT consultant and programming education manager. He was also selected for the IBM 100% Club and to attend the IBM Systems Engineering Symposium multiple times. He enjoyed a two year IBM Faculty Loan assign-ment at Virginia State University. While there, he developed the curriculum and planned the implementation of the University's first Trojan summer computer camp . After being retired for 6 years, John re-entered the workforce serving 8 more years for the City of Richmond. His primary role was providing legislative support and delivery of citizen services on behalf of the 6th and 9th district council members. In 2007, John answered the call to preach and was licensed and ordained at Morning Star Baptist Church. He received his Master of Divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. He used his calling as an Associate Minister at both Morning Star and Fifth Street Baptist Churches . Not only was John a loyal employee and evangelist, he was also an active member in the Richmond community. He served on the boards for Boaz and Ruth, Inc., the Highland Park Community Development Corporation and the Chelsea Hill Family Life and Research Center. Typically, John started his day with a crossword puzzle and later added Sudoku. Music was in his bones. He was a self-taught pianist. With this innate gift, he not only played for his own enjoyment, he also played for his home church choir and senior centers in the Richmond community. He was a thespian, performing in numerous stage and film productions. He sang with The Celebration Male Chorus, as well as the Tucker Chorus until he was no longer able to participate. John was honored to be asked to join the the Swinson Brothers Quartet, because he could sing and he knew all the words to the songs as he learned them at Morning Star. John had a special relationship with his grandchildren. He was known for his bubbles, balloons and Bazooka bubble gum. When all has been said and done, John never forgot that the real lessons of life were learned "behind the barn" and working with his father and older brothers on the pulpwood truck. He felt that the lessons learned at Morning Star and in his early family life sustained him throughout his adult life. Reverend John Samuel Westbrook, Jr. departed this life on March 2, 2015. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruby T. And John S. Westbrook, Sr. and brother Willie Westbrook. He is survived by his wife, Edwina Westbrook; daughter, Amy Westbrook Toombs (Shawn); son, John Samuel Westbrook, III; five grandchildren: Matthew and Samuel Smith, Elijah Harris, Madeline and Alainna Toombs; sister, Roslin Brown (Rudolph); brother, Joel Westbrook (Eva); mother-in-law, Elizabeth Morris; two brothers-in-law, Fred White (Patreis) and K. Mitchell White (Hahna) and a host of other relatives and friends. The Other Shore by Luther Barnes and the Redd Budd Choir Though the clouds may hang over there will be a brighter day in that land, they call heaven God shall wipe all tears away We shall behold the lamb of God sitting on the throne There be no more crying, no more weeping troubles will be gone Hallelujah there be joy forever more when we reach that other shore No more sorrow and no more weeping peace and joy everyday For besides life's crystal river God shall wipe all tears away Oh the joy of meeting Jesus mortal tongues cannot portray For we know when we behold him God shall wipe all tears away

Tributes

Rev. John Samuel Westbrook, Jr.

June 6, 1944 - March 2, 2015