On October 17th, 1947, the world welcomed Jarrell Robert Westbrook III. He was born to the parentage of Rev. Jarrell R. Westbrook Jr and Genetta Sephus. Both parents preceded him in death, and his grandfather, Rev. Jarrell R. Westbrook Sr.
His formal education was at St. Peter's Academy until High School. He then enrolled and graduated from Booker T Washington Technical High School.
Jarrell later enlisted in the U.S. Marines. While a patient in the hospital serving in Vietnam, he took an interest in the medical field and began being trained as a Nurse Assistant.
He received the National Defense Service Medal, Rifle Marksmanship Badge, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Upon discharge, he received the Good Conduct Medal on February 02nd, 1969. He then transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve Forces after active duty until February 28th, 1975.
Jarrell accepted a position at the V.A. Hospital in Housekeeping. He then changed his name to "J.R.," and a new chapter of his life began. It was then discovered he had medical training as a nurse assistant and encouraged to apply for the position. The rest is history. He worked at the hospital for 16 years in total. His love was the 5th floor (SICU), where he worked for the majority of his tenure. He always said that the job saved my life.
When my son, Joe Fields, enlisted in the Navy, that was one of the happiest days of his life. He believed in the military. Our house was full of Marine products, and now the Navy products were added.
He was taking care of a pilot, and they often talked. When the patient was being discharged, J.R. complimented his shoes. The pilot casually asked him what size he wore, and he casually replied. To his surprise, management called him in, and the same suede taupe-colored loafer had been shipped from a catalog to encourage J.R. to keep up the good job with patients.
While a member of the Shekinah Tabernacle Baptist Church, he desired to help establish a Homeless Ministry. He would get off work late Saturday nights from the hospital and vacuum the church for the next morning. Then, he'd get a few hours of sleep and pick up the church's van to start picking up the homeless to be fed. Then he would take them back to the streets and return to the kitchen to wash all those large pots and pans. That was his passion, and he was honored as "Man of the Year" at a banquet. J. R. was honored with an engraved Brass/Mahogany Clock. The Ministry was quite successful.
He often told the story of how he met Sheryl Rush at The Whitmire's house. We grew up in the same neighborhood, same street, and attended the same High School. We decided it was time for Holy Matrimony to take place, and we were married on February 07th, 2005. He nicknamed me Lucy from "I Love Lucy." Said I was funny!
Frank Sinatra's song says, "I did it my way," and that's what J.R. did. I am living with the memory that "He did it his way." When he finally decided all the holidays were over and he was ready to go to the hospital, guess where he returned to? The 5th floor at the V.A. Hospital, where his room was always full of love.
He leaves to cherish his memory: Loving Wife, Sheryl Fields-Westbrook; Son: Derrick Rush, Stepson: Joseph Fields, Brother: Timothy Lee Westbrook; Sister: Sheila Westbrook- Williams (Wiley) Mansfield, LA; Aunt: Fannie Mae Bradford; Nieces: LaKeysha Joseph (Manuel) Jacksonville, FL, Lanqua Thomas (Eddie), Tyesha Westbrook, Tyneisha Westbrook, LaDetra Johnson, Quamesha Heard (Rodney) and a host of other relatives.