William Parker Westbrook, Jr

William Parker (Billy) Westbrook, Jr., 83, of Albany, GA, died Thursday, May 26, 2011 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 3:00 PM at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The Very Reverend Mark S. Jones will officiate. Interment will follow in Oakview Cemetery. Serving as active pallbearers: Jeff Sinyard, Barry Carr, John Reese, Joe Bostick, Jr., Frank Dixon and Chap Enfinger. Serving as honorary pallbearers: Murry Webb, Bill Bacon, Gill Klemann, John Sperry, Don Dozier, Genie Clark, Chet Clark,
T.B. Hambrick and Davis King, Sr.

Mr. Westbrook was born to William Parker and Alma Davis Westbrook and was a fifth generation Albanian. He graduated from Albany High School in 1944 and North Georgia College in 1946. Mr. Westbrook served in the United States Navy before graduating from the University of Georgia, where he was a member of Chi Phi Fraternity. Mr. Westbrook was a lifetime communicant of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where he served on the vestry and where his three children were baptized and married.

As a realtor and developer, Mr. Westbrook was the founder and president of Tift and Westbrook, Inc. He developed residential and commercial real estate holdings throughout Albany. Mr. Westbrook was involved in civic and community affairs, including service as president of the Kiwanis Club and director of Citizens and Southern Bank. He served on the boards of the Central and Georgia Railroad, the Georgia-Florida Southern Railway and the Georgia Department of Transportation, where he was involved in the creation of the Corridor Z Highway.

The proverbial gentleman farmer and outdoorsman, he was happiest on his farm and on the sea. He loved hunting, fresh and salt water fishing and golfing.

Mr. Westbrook was a member of the Elks Club, Radium Springs Country Club and Doublegate Country Club. He was also a member of The Bay Point Resort, Panama City Beach, FL and the Capitol City Club in Atlanta, GA.

Survivors include his wife, Bettye Gordon Westbrook of Albany, GA, a son and daughter-in-law, Parker and Barbara Westbrook of Camilla, GA, two daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Bobby Stringer of Atlanta, GA and Allatia and Kelley Harwood of Omaha, NE, two step-daughters and their husbands, Sherri and Walt Cline of Buford, GA and Kathi and Del Mills of Bogart, GA, a sister, Betty Westbrook Lee of Washington, GA and twelve grandchildren, Will, Matt and Sam Stringer; Banks, Coley, and Mary Parker Westbrook; McKinney and Lizzie Harwood; Scott and Fletcher Cline; and Tyler and Levi Mills. He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Banks Brimberry Westbrook, the mother of his children.

The family received friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM Friday at Mathews Funeral Home.

Those desiring may make contributions to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 212 North Jefferson Street, Albany, GA, 31701.