Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

July 16, 2024

CHARLOTTE – Carol Lee (Welch) Westbrook, 81, passed away peacefully in her sleep, at Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Southminster on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.  She was born on March 9, 1943, in Nashville, TN to Margarett Blume Welch and Robert Lee Welch.

Carol grew up in Nashville, TN where she graduated from high school at Harpeth Hall in 1961. She attended Auburn University & graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education in 1965.  That same year, she met the love of her life, Jim Westbrook on a blind date, they got engaged 6 months later and married that same year at First Lutheran Church in Nashville TN. 

Jim’s Golf career took them first to Waynesboro, VA for a short time and then onto Florence, SC where he accepted a Head Professional job at Florence Country Club.  Once Jim and Carol relocated to Florence, they adopted their daughter Julie in 1970.  In 1973, Jim accepted the position of Director of Golf at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, NC where they remained and lived out their married years together.  They were only one year shy of their 60^th wedding anniversary, which would have been in June 2025.

Carol was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, but outside of her family, she also found a love in teaching young children.  She spent over 15 years working as an educator at Charlotte Country Day School in the lower school.  Carol formed lifelong friendships with her fellow colleagues and the countless number of students whose lives she impacted brought her so much joy.  She gave her heart and soul to teaching Kindergarteners from 1988 to 1998.  She later returned to teach in the after-school program at Country Day for six additional years, until she officially retired.

Even in her retirement, she kept wanting to give back to her community.  She volunteered at Carolinas Medical Center in the Neonatal Progressive Care Unit.  Carol visited each week to rock the babies that needed extra tender loving care.  She had a genuine love for babies and young children.  It was a true pleasure in her life to be able to interact with them and help them thrive, however she could.

A luncheon to celebrate Carol’s life was held at one of her favorite restaurants on July 18^, 2024, with a close group of friends and her daughter Julie.  Memories were shared and happy stories were told.  She was fondly remembered as a loving friend, coworker, neighbor and mother, who will be greatly missed.

Carol is survived by her daughter, Julia (Julie) Westbrook Hayes and grandson, Charles (Charlie) Westbrook Hayes of Sierra Madre, CA; two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Westbrook Lett of Norfolk, VA and Margaret Moore Westbrook; brother-in-law Worrall Reed Carter III, of Greensboro, MD; her niece, Catherine Westbrook Carter of Cullowhee, NC; her nephew, Thomas Worrall Carter of Seattle, WA, and her cousin, Mary Welch Francis of Nashville, TN.  She was predeceased by her husband, James (Jim) Francis Westbrook, who passed away just eight months prior, at the same Hospice House, ironically in the same exact room.  Carol missed Jim immensely and had fought a battle against ovarian cancer for the last several years.  It is comforting to know they are now rejoined and together in heaven, to celebrate their ongoing love.

A private committal service for the family, will be held in the columbarium at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1001 Queens Road in Charlotte, NC; where Carol will be laid to rest with her late husband, Jim Westbrook, adjacent to the niche of her mother; Margaret Welch.

Memorials may be offered in memory of Carol to Atrium Health Foundation, c/o In the NIC of Time, 7800 Providence Road, Suite 208, Charlotte, NC 28226 or via (https://fundraise.atriumhealthfoundation.org/give/517558/#!/donation/checkout).  This is a charitable organization that supports neonatal and fetal care and is dedicated to bringing health, hope, and healing to families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.