James “JEB” Butler is a Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator at Heart of Texas Hospice in Spring Branch, Texas, where he has dedicated his career to supporting individuals living with dementia and their families particularly during the “panic phase” when a dementia diagnosis first turns a family’s world upside down. His deep compassion for this community inspired him to author the book Why is Everybody Whispering Around Me?, which centers the positive reality that families can hold onto even in the midst of a devastating diagnosis.

James brings both professional expertise and personal conviction to his work as a member of the African American/Black Community Council, having previously partnered with the research team on a PCORI-funded project where his experiences with persons living with dementia and their loved ones deepened his commitment to community-centered dementia research. He believes strongly that the voices of African American and Black communities must be included in the research designed to serve them, and he shows up fully with his time, his heart, and his expertise to make that happen.