WESTBROOK

James Layman Westbrook Jr., 68, died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. He had just begun to serve as interim county manager of Moore County on Nov. 26.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church, in Southern Pines. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery, in Chapel Hill.
Jim had a long and successful career both in public service and in the U.S. Army. He served as the city manager of Asheville, from 1994–2005, the town manager of Cary from 1988–1994, as well as numerous other positions in local government finance in North Carolina and Virginia.
Jim retired from the U.S. Army Reserve, having attained the rank of colonel, and served in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm. He received the Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal and various other awards and decorations.
Jim was on the board of advisers of the Senior Executive Institute of the University of Virginia, the board of directors of the School of Government Foundation at UNC-Chapel Hill, and served as a senior adviser to the International City and County Managers Association.
Born in Durham and graduating from Durham High School in 1963, Jim went on to earn a B.A. in political science from UNC-Chapel Hill, an M.A. in political science with an emphasis in public administration from Appalachian State University, and certificates in the Government Executives Institutes from UNC and the University of Virginia.
He had participated actively in the communities in which he lived through Rotary clubs, United Way Executive Board, Economic Development Commissions, Sister Cities Programs, Moore County Hounds, Friends of Weymouth and various church boards. He was a member of Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines.
Surviving is his wife of 44 years, Diane Thompson Westbrook; his son, James Blair Buchanan Westbrook and wife, Marguerite, of Columbia, S.C.; his son-in-law, Daniel Arthur Turton, of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren, Shaw Layman Preston Turton, Lane Buchanan Ainsworth Turton and Mason Grace Taylor Turton; sisters, Janie Ann Westbrook, of Durham, and Delores Kurtti, of Fort Myers, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter, Ashley Westbrook Turton; and his parents, James Layman Westbrook Sr. and Janie Pauline Westbrook, formerly of Durham.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Ashley Westbrook Turton Scholarship, School of Government Foundation, UNC-Chapel Hill, CB No. 3330, Knapp-Sanders Bldg., Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3330; or to Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church Music Fund, 330 South May St., Southern Pines, NC 28387.
Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines is serving the family.