Oscar Jerome Brittingham Jr. (1906 - 1985)

Born 26 Apr 1906 in Newport News, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Agnes Martin (Hunter) Brittingham — married 24 Apr 1934 (to 15 Mar 1985) in Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, Newport News, Virginia

Descendants

Died 15 Mar 1985 at age 78 in Newport News, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Judith Brittingham [send private message]

Biography

O. J. was a member of the Episcopal Church (United States).

Native Virginian

O. J. Brittingham, Jr. was born in 1906. He passed away in 1985.

He was the first Mayor of the consolidated cities of Newport News and Warwick, Virginia, serving from 1 July 1958 until 30 June 1962. The consolidation caused the new city to become the third largest in Virginia at that time, containing 65 square miles. During his administration, Christopher Newport College (now a university) was established and the Victory Arch, originally constructed in 1919, was rebuilt.

Following a massive heart attack in the summer of ‘62, he resigned as Mayor; however, he remained on the Newport News City Council until 1976. At the time of the Golden Jubilee for the Newport News/Warwick consolidation, the name of the central recreation center was changed to Brittingham Midtown Community Center to honor him.

On 26 April 1906, in Newport News, Virginia (where the James River meets the Chesapeake Bay), he was born to Oscar Jerome and Margaret Hunter (Hogg) Brittingham. He died 15 March 1985 in the Riverside Medical Center, 500 J Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, VA. He was 5 feet, 10 inches tall with dark brown hair and blue eyes.

Along with his brother, Lafayette Arthur "Britt" Brittingham, he was co-owner of the O. J. Brittingham Company (roofing, plumbing, & sheet metal), which was founded by their father. After 56 years, he retired as owner in 1983.

While at Newport News High School, he played end on the football team. He was a member of The Virginia Military Institute Class of '27. Next he studied Sanitary Engineering at Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh.

In 1945, he became a charter member of the Warwick Rotary Club and served as their 2nd President from 1 July 1946 through 30 June 1947. Until his heart attack, he never missed their weekly meeting.

His first elected position was as a School Board member for the City of Warwick.

He was a Vestryman & served as Senior Warden for Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, Newport News, Virginia.

At Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Newport News, Virginia, he married Agnes Martin Hunter (14 Oct. 1910 - 2 Dec. 1985), daughter of James Lipscomb and Eva Todd (Scheetz) Hunter, on 24 April 1934.

Oscar Jerome "Jerry" Brittingham, Jr. and Agnes Martin (Hunter) Brittingham had 6 children (?-3 daughters & 3 sons):

- Agnes Martin "Marty" Brittingham (1935-2009)

- Oscar Jerome "Jerry" Brittingham III (1938-2014)

- James Hunter Brittingham (1942-2020)

- Son (Living 2020)

- Susan (Brittingham) Saunders (1948-2010)

- (Pre-born infant) Brittingham (c1951)

His 6th great-grandfather, William Brittingham (born 1640), the progenitor of the Brittingham family in America, came from Norfolk, England in 1659 (final year of the Commonwealth) under the sponsorship of John Nutthall. In 1667, William, in turn, sponsored 14 others into the Colony for which he received 700 acres in Accomack County, Virginia, near the Maryland border.

Sources

• 1910 Census - Wythe, Elizabeth City County, Virginia (Age 4); Roll: T624_1627; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0133; FHL microfilm: 1375640

• 1920 Census - Wythe, Elizabeth City County, Virginia (Age 13) on Chesapeake Ave.

• 1930 Census - Census Place: Newport News, Newport News (Independent City), Virginia; Roll: 2469; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 15; Image: 457.0; FHL microfilm: 2342203

• 1940 Census - 13 Shirley Road, Warwick Co., Virginia.

• 1950 Census - 13 Shirley Road, Warwick Co., Virginia.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #101092393 for Oscar Jerome "Jerry" Brittingham Jr.

• Judith (Drew) Brittingham, his first daughter-in-law