Nelson C. Westbrooks Jr.,

April 29, 2017

Nelson C. Westbrooks, Jr., 89, of Bainbridge, Ga., formerly of Brunswick, Ga., passed away Saturday, April 29, 2017.

The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Mike Brown officiating. A private interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Whigham, Ga., with Johnny Reynolds, Robert Bridges, Craig Fletcher, Rick Herndon, Jim Conger, Jack Leverett, Doug West, and Frank Flowers serving as active pallbearers. The Dewberry-Forrester Sunday School Class will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 1, 2017, at Ivey Funeral Home. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.

Nelson Cleveland Westbrooks, Jr. was born August 26, 1927, in Atlanta, Ga., the son of Nelson Cleveland Westbrooks and Winnie Donnie Baker Westbrooks. He was a graduate of Glynn Academy, Class of 1945. Nelson received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from the University of Georgia in 1949, where he was also a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy during World War II, in the Pacific Theatre, and later in occupation forces in Japan including Nagasaki. Nelson also served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He married Margaret Hazel Williams in June 1965. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Bainbridge where he served as President of the Dewberry-Forrester Sunday School Class. Besides tickling the ivories in his Sunday School class, Nelson provided music offerings as a member of the handbell choir and guest pianist throughout the church.

Nelson was quite a character and certainly had the gift of gab. He never tired of sharing stories of his childhood shenanigans, his years on active duty during war time, his love for number crunching, and of course, his beloved Georgia Bulldogs. Nelson began his career as a Certified Public Accountant in 1963, and became an active partner in DeLoach, DeLoach and Company in 1964. He retired in 1992 and served as an active consultant until 2002. In 2001, Nelson received the Meritorious Service Award, the highest honor bestowed on one of its members, at the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants Annual Meeting. While a member, he also served as chairman on the ethics committee and was awarded the society’s distinguished member award for 1974-1975. In 1988-1989, he was recognized for outstanding service through involvement in local chapters and statewide activities. In 1992, Nelson received recognition from the Brunswick chapter for his outstanding contribution to his profession, community and society. In Brunswick, he served and held offices in the Jaycees and Kiwanis Club; he served as the Lieutenant Governor of Division IV of the Kiwanis Club of Georgia as well as various other community board positions and commissions. Nelson was a proud member of the Southwest Georgia Bulldog Club. With a smile that brightened any room, an unforgettable laugh and a sweet spirit, Nelson encouraged others daily serving as an excellent role model of “attitude is everything”.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Hazel W. Westbrooks; his nephew, Douglas Wooten of Dallas, Ga.; his nieces, Martha Brown of Donalsonville, Ga. and Catherine Elkins and her husband, David of Cairo, Ga.; and a host of great nieces and nephews.