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EAST MOLINE — Barbara J. Westbrook, 85, of East Moline, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, at Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus, Silvis. She was surrounded by her loving family.
Celebration of life services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, at Gospel Mission Church, 5074 N. Pine, Davenport. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 1501 6th Avenue, East Moline.
Burial will be at Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Orr’s Mortuary, Rock Island, is handling arrangements. Memorials may be made to the family. A donation will be made to help active members of the military which was her wish.
Barbara J. Williams-Westbrook was born on May 10, 1925, the beautiful daughter and 5th child of Joseph and Lucille Williams in Charleston, Mo. On August 28, 1940, she married the man of her dreams, Charles B. Westbrook, in Round Pond, Arkansas. On August 29, 2010, the Rev. Charles and Barbara Westbrook celebrated 70 years of a loving, Christ-centered and blessed union.
Barbara was a beautiful wife and loving mother of 11 biological children but gave spiritual birth to countless children of God. As a Pastor’s Wife for 44 plus years, she not only demonstrated her devotion to her husband and his ministry, but also to her God. She was a strong woman and an innovator and visionary. She was a woman of great, great wisdom. She was very active in the local church, Community Outreach Church of God in Christ, East Moline. She served on the state level as Regional Mother of Illinois Northern Jurisdictional of the Churches of God in Christ. She served in her community as the founder of the Women’s Division of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. She received the Mother of the Year Award from the Black Families Conference.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of 70+ years, Rev. Charles Westbrook; her 11 children, Rochelle (Sumner) Jenkins; Charles Westbrook, Jr.; LaJune Johnson, Brenda Joyce (Larry) Lee; Kenneth (Elaine) Westbrook; Dennis (Sharon) Westbrook; Larry (Janice) Westbrook; Delores (Joseph) Tingle; Gary (Carol) Westbrook; Joseph Westbrook; and Cynthia (Raymond) Bryson; 43 grandchildren; 68 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; special cousins, George Turner, Blondell Weaver, and Marie Yarrington; and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her two sisters and four brothers, and a special son-in law, James L. Johnson, Sr.

GuestBook

To the Westbrook Family, Please accept our deepest condolences. You are in our prayers. May God bless and keep each of you.

There is nothing like a mother's love and it shall live in your hearts forever. Only the Master could call her home and we know He welcomed her with open arms as only the Father can do. You are all in my prayers and I know the Lord will hold you all through this time.

I am so glad i got the chance to spend thanksgiving with you auntee. For some reason it was so important to be with you and uncle... not knowing it would be my last kiss or my last piture of you. we love you and you will be forever missed. YOUR GREAT NIECE SHAWN!

To Carol and Gary, Please except my sincere condolences on your loss. You are in my prayers.

Aeryca, Kristen, Justin Christopher and I would like to send our condolences to the family. This family has always been apart of our hearts since the time we lived in the Quad Cities, and we are heartbroken to hear the passing of Mother Westbrook. She lived holy, and she lived right, she suffered through this thing we called life, to see Jesus.... so WE must live our lives to see Jesus, so, when I see Jesus, AMEN! God Bless You

To the entire Westbrook family. I didn't know Mrs. Westbrook personally but I was acquainted with several of her children. Only a phenomenal woman could raise such dutiful, accomplished, and loving adults. I know she will be greatly missed by all of you but you know that she will live on in your memories. Most importantly, she has claimed a Heavenly reward.

To: Larry, Joyce (Brenda), Dennis, Delores & Cynthia) and the rest of the family; May God be with you and your family through this difficult time. Lean on each other and keep God first. Your mother will be greatly missed but you have so many memories and lessons learned. Stay encouraged and may God continue to strengthen and bless you. Love Always, Gwendolyn Boyd Lawrence.

I am truly sorry to here of the lost of your mother my thoughts and prayers are with you. MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU ALL

Joyce and family, You have my heartfelt sympathy in the passing of your Mother. May God give you all the strength you and your family need to endure. My thoughts and prayers are with yu all.

May God hold all of the Westbrook family in the palm of His hand. I didn't know Mrs Westbrrok personally but I had a lot of the children in my Choir classes at UTHS. I knew of her great influnce.God Bless.

Our condolences to the family. She will be missed by all she knew. God bless you all.

May the Lord give you peace in this time of sorrow. I will always remember the warmth of the Westbrook family to my mother, Ida Gordon. Blessings M

Please accept our heartfelt sympathy on the home going of your mother. We offer our prayers that the family will find the strength to sustain you through your pain and sorrow. Your mother was God's good and faithful servant. Always active, deeply devoted and sincere in every word and deed. God called her home to eternal rest. Memories of Mother Westbrook will always linger in the minds of all of us who knew and loved her.

Joyce and Delores (and the entire family), Knowing the woman of God Mother Westbrook was satisfies everything. She raised 11 God-fearing children and had a tremendous part in the upbringing of all of the grands and great-grands. Pappa Westbrook could not have chosen a better rib! Thank you all for sharing your parents with us; I personally know it is difficult to share parents with hundreds, perhaps thousands of people, but all of you did it with grace and with humble spirits. If it were not for you (Joyce and Delores), my sister Cindy and I would have never become the musicians we are today; thank you. God bless you all and know we are here for you as you were here for us when our dad went to glory a few months ago. I love you all!

Elder James L. Mitchell of Harvest Time Family Worship Center Church, Apostle James E. Lee - Founder, Pastors Anthony & Zaretta Lee
Posted: March, 31, 2011 11:14 pm

To the entire Westbrook Family, Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this time. Mother Westbrook was a Precious Jewel in the sight of God. One that stood firm in holiness and didn't waver. She was like family to us (The Allen Family of Kewanee, Illinois). We enjoyed the fellowship over the years with Mother & Dad Westbrook and the Westbrook Children. From the days of Bethel Church Of God in Christ of Kewanee, under the leadership of the Late Eld. W. C. Walker and my Grandfather the Late Eld. Ardail Allen Sr. of Christ Deliverance Pentecostal Church of Kewanee. When I was a young boy we would visit the Church in East Moline and I could see Mo. Westbrook sitting there in Church and strike out Singing songs in testimony service, Oh Heaven, Heaven Is mine, What You Do Now, Do It With A Heavenly Mine, and in later years she would sing songs like, Oh My Record Will Be There. And the church would catch on fire. We had church I tell you. She would come out from that seat do her dance, wave her hand and take her seat. That was Mo. Westbrook. Always had a smile and a word of encouragement for the people and saints of God. She will be greatly missed, not only in the church but also in the community. She will never be forgotten. When you see the Westbrook Singers you can't but help to see Mom & Dad Westbrook in them. We loved Mother but God loved her best. She will always have a special place in our hearts. I love all of you. God bless and keep you. This is my prayer. Elder James L. Mitchell, oldest son of Mo. Florence L. Mitchell & oldest grand son of the Late Elder Ardail Allen Sr. & Mother Verna Mae (Pryor) Allen.

May God up hold your family is our prayer. Mother Barbara Westbrook will be missed greatly.

Office of the Most Bishop Dr. Charles Blake, International Prelate of the Church of God In Christ
Posted: April, 1, 2011 7:29 am

May it be resolved that the office of the Bishop extends his sincere condolences to the family of our dear sainted Mother Barbara Westbrook. May it be further resolved that our prayers for her family and friends be offered for the peace, strength and grace of All Mighty God to be with them during this time. Whereas Mother Westbrook has served locally and at the state level of our church, and has supported the national initiative of our organization; we are certain of her Heavenly reward. May the God of understanding and wisdom be with you, her family, now and forever. In Christ Service, The Holy Bishop Charles E. Blake International Prelate of the Church of God in Christ

We go back a long way and were very good friends. My thoughts and prays go out to the family. May god bless and take care in your time of need. Love Mother Page

The Glory theLord receives is found in the legacy that is left to follow in Mother Westbrook's steps. We mourn and rejoice because God's work was fulfilled in her Life. To Larry and Joyce Lee we pray for you and your family.

My heart saddened when I heard of the passing of our Mother of the Community. I hold dear the loving thoughts of a beautiful woman that all women and men can look up to and learn from.I had the honor to have been touched by this family of faith and impeccable spirit.I send my love and blessings to you all.

Lowetta ,JackieWilliams,Rhonda Goodman,The Stubblefield and Bradford families
Posted: April, 1, 2011 10:08 pm

We all send our condolences and prayers to the whole Westbrook family.Mrs.Westbrook was a very special person and the world is a better place for her being here.She will truly be missed .God bless and keep you all. With love

We Greet you in the Mighty Name of Jesus our Lord and our Savior. To the Westbrook Family, our hearts and prayers go out to each of you; Mother Westbrook has been a God send to this community, she and Pastor Westbrook were steadfast in praying with my mother and family during our devastating time. Their prayers and faith in God was like a bridge over trouble waters and gave peace to a weary soul (my mother) and for that I will be eternally grateful. I will always love Mother Westbrook (and Pastor Westbrook) for their prayers and love shown to my family. May God continue to be the source of your strength. With Love Rita(Mc Corkle) Sterling and Family

Pastor and Mildred Rodgers, Pilgrim's Progress COGIC
Posted: April, 2, 2011 4:45 am

To all the Westbrook family members, We are praying for your strength in this time of grief and bereavement. For you all have a great consolation in knowing her life, and how she loved the Lord for real. She was such a quiet inspiration, and a good model for all to follow. She had a Way of making you feel like family as she spoke to you with her warm inviting smile. You all are truly blessed to have had such a heavenly gift given to your family, who so willingly served as mother to so many of us. Be blessed.

Mother Westbrook was truly a gift from God, may you the family be blessed and Gods Grace be with you.

To the Family and friends of Mother Westbrook,It was truly a blessing to know your mother for all these many years, she was a blessing to all. She will be missed! Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansion; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:1-3

To Elder C.B. Westbrook and Family, Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. My prayers and thoughts are with you at this time of sorrow. Growing up in the Quad Cities, I remember Mother Westbrook as a powerful women of God. She was a soft spoken and gracious woman, who was a pillar of Strength to her husband, family, community and church. Mother Westbrook was a devoted worker for Kingdom building. Praise God! As a pastors wife for just a year (April 4, 2010), I will remember Mother Westbrook, as an example of a Godly pastors wife and mother to many. May we all be encouraged by her example of a Godly women. May God bless you with His peace and comfort Elder Westbrook and Family. Sister Bette Taylor-Thompson New Beginnings Baptist Fellowship. Oelwein, IA

Elder Derrick & Missionary Alyssa Rodgers (Pilgrims Progress COGIC - Peoria, IL)
Posted: April, 2, 2011 3:19 pm

Our warmest thoughts & deepest sympathies go with this great family. While no words can replace the loss of this wonderful woman, it is indeed a tremendous honor to reflect upon the tremendous accomplishments she achieved and the many lives she wonderfully touched. We Praise God with you for this woman of legacy. Our prayers are with you all.

I WAS SO SORRY TO HERE ABOUT YOUR MOM. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL. INO SHE IS SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS.PRAISE GOD FOR SUCH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN OF GOD.

Seventy years ago on Aug. 29, 1940, Charles B. Westbrook and Barbara J. Williams were united in marriage in Whitmore, Ark. They moved to East Moline in 1941.

To this union they were blessed to raise five daughters, Rochelle (Sumner) Jenkins, LaJune (the late James) Johnson, Brenda (Larry) Lee, C. Delores (Joseph) Tingle and Cynthia (Raymond) Bryson; six sons, Charles III, Kenneth (Elaine), Dennis (Sharon), Larry (Janice), Gary (Carol) and Joseph. They are also the proud grandparents of 42 grandchildren; 59 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

The Rev. Westbrook retired from John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline in 1978 after more than 30 years of service. He, along with his wife, founded and pastored Westbrook Temple, Clinton, Iowa, pastored Community Church of God in Christ, Des Moines, and founded and pastored Community Outreach Church of God in Christ, East Moline, retiring in June 2007.

A celebration was held in their honor on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010, at Hampton Heritage Center. May God continue to bless this union.

The living room is crowded with family at this East Moline home.Sitting in his recliner is the Rev. Charles Westbrook, retired pastor of Community Outreach Church of God in Christ, which he founded 51 years ago.To his left is his wife Barbara. Filling the remainder of the room are seven of his children and one great-grandchild. At almost 90 years old, the East Moline man has grown quiet. His eyes search for memories long since faded. The voice of his daughter, Brenda Lee, breaks the quiet. “Not very talkative today, Daddy?” Saturday, family and friends will celebrate his 90th birthday, which officially takes place April 26 in a private gathering at the Stoney Creek Inn in Moline. They will pay tribute to a life lived in the fullest sense
of the word.

Born in Round Pound, Ark., and the youngest of seven children, Charles Westbrook’s father was the son of a slave owner. “As I look back at his life I understand more about him and what fueled his ambitions never to become a victim of his environment,”said his son, Larry, who now serves as pastor of the church his father founded in 1956. He founded and served as president over the local Bi-State Southern Christian Leadership Conference (a nonviolent movement originally started by Martin Luther King, Jr. during the civil rights movement). The local chapter brought attention to the need for jobs and minority participation in government and the private sector. During his tenure, he and others were instrumental in registering record numbers of people to vote and show up at the polls. On Aug. 29, 1940, he married Barbara Williams. His partner for 67 years in marriage, ministry, and in parenting of their 11 children, the two are inseparable. His vision may be failing, but he can recognize his wife, whom he affectionately calls “Sally,”from far off. Two years after being married, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. As a sergeant, he came ashore to a cacophony of bullets and bombs on the beaches of Normandy. His memories of that day, recounted years later to his son Larry, reflect a man at a crossroads of faith. “His (Charles’) mother got on him about straightening his life up. And he ended up in the war. When he got over there and hit the beaches and all of the bullets were coming at him, he could remember just about everything that she had said.” Larry said. In 1945, he was wounded and discharged. After he returned home to Arkansas, his growing family necessitated a move north
for better job opportunities.

They moved to an area of East Moline known as Watertown. “Watertown was a very vibrant community during our years growing up,” said another daughter, Delores Tingle. “Much of the African-American community settled there when they came from the South to work at John Deere. Deere had built several houses in the area where the church is located and brought workers in and settled them there. Everyone knew everyone else. It was a village where we were watched after by the
community. Every street was lined with trees and we always had a safe place to play. There were community programs and events that brought the neighborhood together. We had a great time growing up there and received many valuable lessons that shaped our appreciation for life.”

John Deere Harvester Works and the Westbrooks are intertwined. Charles and 10 of his children have all worked many years for Deere. Charles retired after almost 34 years. All the while there, he pastored several churches, serving in many denominational posts, founding and leading many social and community activist organizations. He founded local Church of God in Christ congregations in Clinton, Iowa. and then Rock Island. The Rock Island congregation was predominantly composed of Westbrook children in the early days. They led the worship in the church and became renowned as the Westbrook Singers, touring and performing to this day. He then founded and pastored two other congregations simultaneously, one in Des Moines and then the Community Outreach Church of God in Christ in East Moline, where he retired after 50 years in 2006. “His love for humanity allowed him to make statements like,‘When you help others you also help yourself.’
This teaching allowed me to understand my responsibility to my community and the world — to make this world a better place to live,” wrote the Rev. Larry Westbrook, one of two sons who are now ministers.

Barbara Westbrook

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Charles and Barbara Westbrook Anniversary