James Cayce Gilbert, 87, of Fort Worth, a minister, passed away Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, after a brief illness. Funeral: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 7120 W. Cleburne Road, Fort Worth. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Greenwood Funeral Home.James was born Feb. 26, 1925, in Nashville, Tenn., to Delia and Gettis Gilbert. The Rev. Gilbert graduated from Cohen High School in Nashville, Tenn., Bethel College, the Cumberland Presbyterian Seminary, both in McKenzie, Tenn., and Scaritt College in Nashville, Tenn. He received an honorary doctorate from Bethel College. He was an ordained Cumberland Presbyterian minister and served churches in Tennessee and Tex as during his career. Moving to Houston for his first full-time pastorate in 1948, the Rev. Gilbert fell in love with Texas, became a "Texan by choice" and never lived anywhere else. He served Houston Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Trinity Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth before moving to Denton, where he was executive director of the Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home from 1964 until his retirement in 1990. He will be remembered most for his service to hundreds of children at the Children's Home. The Rev. Gilbert served his church at every level and was elected moderator of its General Assembly in 1979. He was a longtime Mason, an active member of the Denton Hi-Noon Lions Club until retirement and a member of the Southwest Association of Executives of Homes for Children. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mamie Gilbert; brother, Charles Gilbert; and a granddaughter, Shelby Lyn Nelson. Survivors: Wife of 63 years, Freda Mitchell Gilbert of Fort Worth; daughters, Elizabeth Gilbert Horsley (Wayne) of Denton, Suzanne Gilbert Dougherty (Duane) of Troup, Kathryn Gilbert Craig (Tommy) of Arlington, Tenn., and Rosalie Gilbert Nelson of Newnan, Ga.; 10 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
Published in Star-Telegram on November 21, 2012