BISHOP T.L. WESTBROOK's Obituary
Bishop T.L. Westbrook was born on May 17, 1924 in Risen, Arkansas and entered into the glory of the Lord on October 3, 2013 in St. Louis, Missouri. As a young man he attended Gourd Church Of God In Christ in Dumas, Arkansas under the pastoral guidance of Supt. F. LaFlora. He was united in Holy Matrimony to Mother Lois I. Westbrook (deceased) on August 31, 1943. Within a very short time, he started a mission in Colespur, Arkansas.
He was inducted into the U.S. Army on March 26, 1943 and was honorably discharged on March 22, 1945. He was a highly decorated World War II Combat Veteran receiving five Bronze Stars (Rineland, Central Europe, Ardennes, Normandy, and Northern France) and a Good Conduct Medal.
Bishop Westbrook and his family moved to Tacoma, Washington in 1956. They attended the Fawcett Street Church Of God In Christ under the pastorage of the late Bishop R.E. Altheimer for about 17 months. A little more than one year after arriving in the Northwest, Elder T.L. Westbrook (Bishop), his wife, Lois, and their six children started the New Jerusalem Church Of God In Christ. The congregation (4 locations) has remained in the upper Tacoma area for the next 55 years until now.
Numerous ministries were born at the New Jerusalem Church Of God In Christ under Bishop Westbrook’s leadership including: Sunrise Daycare, New Jerusalem Christian Academy, New Jerusalem Feeding & Clothing Program; Safehaven Development Association, a non-profit community service agency that built a 12 Apartment Low-Income Housing Complex (Commonwealth Apartments) on the first property that the church purchased. He also founded the Westbrook Institute of Leadership Development for the development and training of leaders for ministry.
Bishop Westbrook has served in numerous capacities in the Church Of God In Christ: Pastor; State Youth President; District Superintendent; Chairman, WA State Pastors & Elders Council; State Finance Chairman; Chairman, National (C.O.G.I.C.) Tithing Committee; and Chairman (Chief Justice), Church Of God In Christ Judiciary Board (1977-2013). State Prelate, WA State Jursidiction (1977 – 2013).
Bishop Westbrook was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mother Lois Inez Westbrook (February 9, 2012) and his only sibling, Missionary Willie B. Willams (March 23, 2002). He leaves to cherish his memory their children: Tommy Lee, Jr. (Milwaukee, WS), Evelyn Ruth (San Bernadino, CA), Louis Andrew (Angelique), Tacoma, WA, Glenda Louise (Hank), Federal Way, WA, Milton (Las Vegas), Kelvin Ray (Valerie), St. Louis, MO, Jacqueline (Derrick), Temecula, CA, Eric Charles (Julie), Tacoma, WA, Charlotte Genise (Tacoma, WA.), Cheryl Inez (Raleigh, N.C.), Debrae Shan (Tacoma, WA), thirty-one grandchildren, and twenty-three great-grandchildren; 3 nieces and one nephew, and a host of other relatives, New Jerusalem Church Family and the Washington State Jurisdiction.
We celebrate the outstanding life of Bishop T.L. Westbrook for his godly life and eternal legacy.
Remembrances can be made on the TRIBUTE WALL
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