The Reverend James Alfred Westbrook, 84, of Union City, Tennessee, died December 20, 2021. James, an honorably retired member of West Tennessee Presbytery, was born August 13, 1937, in Weakley County, Tennessee, to Hillman Westbrook and Louise Broach Westbrook. James became a Christian, was baptized by the Reverend O.A. Gardner, and joined Good Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dukedom, Tennessee, in 1947.

James attended Lone Oak school and graduated from Dresden High School in 1955 before attending Bethel College (now Bethel University) in McKenzie, Tennessee. He came under the care of Hopewell Presbytery in 1956 as a candidate for the ministry. He married Mae Todd on September 13, 1957. James was licensed by Hopewell Presbytery in 1958. He graduated from Bethel in 1959 and was ordained by Hopewell Presbytery. The Reverend Elmer Hicks preached his ordination sermon and the Reverend Dr. William T. Ingram delivered the charge. James then continued to the Cumberland Presbyterian Theological Seminary (now Memphis Theological Seminary) which was then also in McKenzie.

James served a number of West Tennessee churches including Hurricane Hill in Dyersburg, Gum Springs in Paris, Claybrook in Jackson, Mercer in Jackson, First Church Newbern, First Church Humboldt, and Double Springs in Milan. All were then in Hopewell, Madison, or Obion Presbyteries. He was called to the pastorate of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1978. In 1993, James was called to Columbia First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Columbia Presbytery. He later served Union City First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in West Tennessee Presbytery before retiring in 2002.

James also served as an alderman for the city of Dyer, Tennessee.