Claudette Gutzmore

We celebrate the vibrant life and legacy of Claudette M. Gutzmore, born Miller, who passed away peacefully on her 68th birthday. A native of Kingston, Jamaica, who made her home in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Claudette was a tour de force in the music industry, captivating hearts with her soulful reggae renditions. As Bob Marley once sang, "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." Claudette's music was not just heard; it was felt, reverberating with her listeners long after the last note faded.

Claudette was a woman of extraordinary talent, whose passion for reggae music led her to a fulfilling career as a singer. In her voice, audiences found a beacon of strength, joy, and resilience, encapsulating the spirit of her beloved homeland, Jamaica. Her zest for life and abundant love could not be contained within the confines of a melody; they spilled over, infusing every aspect of her existence. Emily Dickinson wrote, "Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality." Claudette's love—encapsulated in her music, her relationships, and her radiant personality—endows her with an everlasting presence in our hearts.

Claudette is survived by her beloved children, Jermaine Mellers, Lesean Mellers, Phillip Cook, and Shana Gutzmore. She is also survived by several grandchildren and nieces and nephews whom she loved very deeply. Other survivors include her siblings: Maria Moore, Althea McDonald, Wilfred Mellers, Courtney Mellers, Leroy Mellers, and Audley Williams; her sister-in-law, Karen Brizan Mellers, as well as her lifelong partner, Barrington Campbell aka Major. She was preceded in death by her parents, Doris Hinds and Charles Mellers; her brother, Frank Mellers; her sister, Marcia Perkins; and her sister-in-law, Tiffany Mellers.

A visitation and viewing will be held on Friday, October 9th, 2026 at 5:00pm EDT at Baker-Isaac Funeral Services Chapel, located at 985 Stratford Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut with a Celebration of Life Service to follow at 6:00 pm at the same venue.

The Repast will be held following the service at 7:30pm at the Golden Hill United Methodist Church 210 Elm Street Bridgeport, CT.

In honor of Claudette's incredible life, we encourage all who knew and loved her to share their memories and upload photos on her memorial page. Let us remember Claudette as she was: full of life, love, and music. Let her melody play on in our hearts, her memory a rhythm to our lives.