WEST, JAMES THOMAS (Snook) – 86 years old of Knoxville departed this life on Friday, October 15, 2010 at 4:50 p.m. at Hillcrest North.  James was a graduate of Austin High School in 1941, attended Knoxville College; U.S. Navy Veteran (stationed in Norfolk, VA in World War II) and a member of American Legion, Post No.2.  He retired from Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for 39 years as a Records Officer in the Office of General Counsel; “Honorary” –Knoxville, TN Citizen Award –Mayor Bill Haslam; President of Five Points Neighborhood Development Corporation and Board Member for several years; and was an outstanding Masonic member and Shriner for many years serving in several capacities as Potentate and Recorder for many years in civic and charity events; also “Honorary” Member-Austin East Magnet High Tailgaters; and he was a faithful member of Clinton Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church from early youth until death in which he served in many capacities and as Trustee.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandfather and great-grandmother, Sam E. West, Sr. & Susie Siler-West; grandfather and grandmother, Hugh Lawson White Hudson and Roya Armstrong Hudson; Elder (Uncle) Thomas and Aunt Annie West; Uncle Charlie West and Aunt Emma West, Pensie West; Uncle Jake Hudson; mother and father, the late Samuel E. West and Lillian Hudson West; step-mother, Vada West; and father and mother-in-law, James H. Taylor, Sr. and Lucy Buis Taylor; son-in-law, Daniel (Petey) Hardin; and brother-in-law and wife, James H. Taylor Jr. and Anna Mai Allen-Taylor.

Survivors: married for 60 years to devoted wife Willistine Taylor West; devoted daughters, Lillian A. West-Collins and Jamesena A. West-Hardin; one granddaughter, Madelyn A. Collins; grandsons, Daniel J. Hardin and Tyrone Jabriel Hardin; one-great grandson, Kaiden L. Sims-Hardin; cousins: James L. Hudson, Jr. and son James L. Hudson, III; Mary Ruth Elliot, Charleston, VA; Betsy Divine, Savannah, GA; Louise Hudson and son, Reagan B. Hudson, Jr. and Dorothy Mitchell of Hampton, VA; Hugh (Charlene) A. Hudson and family, Acworth, GA; Addie Hudson (Michael) Lisby, Charlotte, NC; Johnny and Sondra Ward, Huntsville, AL, Sharon White, Knoxville, TN; other family and friends include: Clarence W. Collins and family, New Orleans, LA; Pettway family, Detroit, MI; Hardin, Maxwell and Woodfin families, Knoxville, TN; special friends: Carl Armstrong, James Wright & “The Red House” friends; Dr. James Fryer and family, and Bridgett Robinson; Special thanks to members and ministers of Lennon-Seney United Methodist Church, Foster Chapel Baptist Church, and Clinton Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church; Hillcrest Healthcare North doctors and nursing staff (David, Rosie, Jeannie, Esther, et al), Dr. Carla Gillespie, Dr. Tracy Dobbs, Dr. Harry L. Bishop, Dr. Evelyne Davidson and Caris Healthcare (Hospice) of Tennessee.

Visitation, Thursday, October 21, 2010, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. with funeral service to follow at Clinton Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church at 546 College Street, Knoxville, TN; interment, Friday, October 22, 2010 at Tennessee  Veterans Cemetery, 5901 Lyons View Pike, Knoxville, TN. Services to conclude with full military honors and full dove release.

This obituary was posted on Friday, October 15th, 2010 at 9:00 am.
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