Judith James

1940 - 2025

Judith Westbrook "Judye" James, aged 84, passed away peacefully on March 3rd surrounded in body and spirit by everyone who loved her.

Judye was preceded in death by her loving and long missed husband, Charles F. "Charlie" James, Jr. and her parents Mary Evelyn and Edwin Hodge and Mabel and John Westbrook and brother Ed Westbrook.

Born on July 14, 1940, in Chattanooga, TN, Judye was a proud graduate of Chattanooga City High School and of the University of Tennessee. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority where she made life-long friends.

Later in life, she reconnected with 3 sisters and they had an annual "catch up" lunch together for the last 15 years or so.

Loyalty was her favorite word. She was loyal to her family, her friends, her church, her university and her community. She served all with love and a fierce determination to be involved, make friends, organize and administrate.

Judye was a devoted fan of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball program. Her enthusiasm for the team was contagious, and she often could be seen in a Lady Vol tee shirt that said, "Impossible is Nothing." She held immense respect and admiration for Pat Summitt's leadership, dedication, competitiveness and resilience and she often spoke of her remarkable achievements and her positive impact on young girls and on women's athletics.

Another passion of hers was the game of golf. She belonged to clubs in Memphis and Knoxville, played in and won tournaments state wide and was a member of both Memphis and Knoxville Area Women's Golf Associations. She became an advocate for senior women golfers and was one of the founding members and 16-year president of the state wide Tennessee Golden Girls Golf Group. She loved nothing more than to play a round of golf on a beautiful day with her friends.

Judye was a parishioner of All Saints Catholic Church in Knoxville and she adored her Thursday morning Bible study group there.

Judye was so proud of her family and was a strong, generous, common-sense mother and grandmother. She is survived by her daughters, Laura James Higdon (John) and Jennifer James Clark, grandchildren Eric Higdon (Carissa), Brooks Welk (Victoria), Taylor Welk (Hannah), Charlie Higdon, and Frances Higdon, and great-grandchildren, Kollins Welk, Juniper McCauley, Grayson Higdon, and Wyatt Welk.

There are not enough words of gratitude and love for the neighbors of Highgrove Gardens who enjoyed her pragmatic, no-nonsense style.They loved her and looked after her as they do all of their neighbors. It's a very special place.

We have immense appreciation and affection for Mary Sowell and her group of Compassionate Hands palliative care givers. Thank you, Maribel, Vicki, Claudette, and a special thanks to Mary, Jasmin and Carolyn.

The family will receive friends from 4:00-5:00pm at All Saints Catholic Church on Thursday, March 6th with a funeral service to follow. A graveside service is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 8th at Forest Hill Memorial Park East. Memphis, TN. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the University of Tennessee Women's Athletic Program, Girls Golf-Knoxville at Fairways & Greens, or Catholic Charities. Kindly consider contributing financially or physically so that a young girl or woman can succeed in sport. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rosefuneraltn.com