West Tennessee Healthcare President, CEO James Ross dies

James Ross, president and CEO of West Tennessee Healthcare, died Thursday morning, according to an announcement from the health system on social media.

Ross had been with the nonprofit for nearly four decades, having joined in 1985 as a registered nurse in the surgical intensive care unit at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.

He would go on to become a clinical coordinator, which he had described as a gateway to other supervisory and management roles in the organization. He was named vice president of hospital services in 2000, chief operating officer in 2009 and then took the helm full-time in 2017.

Ross grew up in nearby Henderson, Tennessee, before earning his nursing degree in Jackson, where the health system is based. He said he developed “a love for first aid and emergency preparedness” as a Boy Scout and worked with his county’s EMS prior to enrolling in a nursing program.

“I paid my way through college by riding in ambulances and I loved it,” he told VIP Jackson Magazine last year.

The notice from West Tennessee Healthcare posted to its Facebook page Thursday did not disclose a cause of death and asked that the public respect the Ross family’s privacy as they grieve. Funeral arrangements had not been made as of the posting.

The social media post announcement had over 600 comments as of Friday afternoon, many of which recall Ross’ kindness, generosity and community involvement.

"JR had this incredible way of making everyone feel seen, heard, and cared for—whether you were a patient, a colleague, or just someone lucky enough to know him,” Scott Conger, mayor of the city of Jackson, wrote in one of the comments. “What I'll remember most about JR is his heart. He genuinely loved this community and gave so much of himself to ensure we were all better for it. It’s hard to put into words how much he meant to me and so many others. His absence leaves a void that can’t easily be filled, but his legacy will continue to guide us."

West Tennessee Healthcare is a seven-hospital health system with more than 90 locations serving more than half a million people throughout the region. It employs more than 7,000 people and, though self-supported, is governed by a board appointed by the city of Jackson and Madison County.

Ross is survived by his wife, who is also a nurse, and two daughters.