Elizabeth Morton Westbrooke Palmer

Elizabeth “Bruce” Morton Westbrooke Palmer passed on from this world January 19, 2022 following a brief illness.

Bruce was born October 17, 1936 in Norfolk, VA, the second of four girls to Elizabeth West Morton and Jeremiah Strother Morton, Jr.  She spent her elementary years in Chevy Chase, MD, her junior high years in Seattle, WA and her high school years in Norfolk, VA. She graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.  In 1960, she married John Clifton (“Clif”) Westbrooke, Jr. and moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where she worked and raised her family. A long-time advocate for children, Bruce spent her career with the State of Florida working in foster care, adoption and child support enforcement. After retiring and Clif’s death, she married Thomas Andrew (“Andy”) Palmer.

Bruce was a deeply committed Christian and over her 60 years as a Jacksonville resident was an active member of The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and Redeemer Anglican Church. She enjoyed time with family and friends, painting, swimming, playing bridge, reading, traveling and working crossword puzzles.

Bruce is preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth W. Etheredge and Jeremiah S. Morton, Jr.; sister Ann C. Morton; husband John C. Westbrooke Jr.; husband Thomas A. Palmer; and son-in-law Scott W. McCallister.  Bruce is survived by her children, Pamela W. (Parker) Bridgeport, Rebecca W. McCallister and John C. (Kelly) Westbrooke, III; grandchildren, Sarah E. Bridgeport and Ryan D. Bridgeport; sisters Barbara W. Williamson and Charlotte M. Bennett; extended family and a number of close friends.

Bruce will be celebrated at a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022 at Redeemer Anglican Church, 4815 Executive Park Court, Suite 201, Jacksonville, Florida, 32216. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in her honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, UNICEF or other charity for children.