Mississippi Bar Memorial Service honors judges, lawyers
Published 1:29 pm Friday, October 11, 2024
- Caption: Standing, at center, Rev. Jeff Redding, Senior Associate Pastor at Pinelake, Madison, gives the benediction at the Mississippi Bar Memorial Service at the Supreme Court on Oct. 8. Seated, foreground, are Mississippi Bar President-Elect Rhea Tannehill of Oxford, at left, and Bar President Meade Mitchell of Ridgeland. Seated on the bench are, left to right, Justice James D. Maxwell II of Oxford, Presiding Justice Jim Kitchens of Crystal Springs, Chief Justice Mike Randolph of Hattiesburg, Presiding Justice Leslie D.King of Greenville, Justice Robert P. Chamberlin of Hernando, and Justice David M. Ishee of Gulfport. Photo provided
The Mississippi Supreme Court, Mississippi Bar leaders, family members and friends recently honored 112 lawyers and judges who died during the past year.
Three Oxford judges and five Oxford attorneys were recognized and remembered during the memorial service which is a solemn annual tradition.
Judges from Oxford who died recently included Senior U.S. District Judge Neal B. Biggers Jr., Municipal Judge Philip Hal Neilson and retired County Court Judge Patricia B. Sims.
Attorneys from Oxford memorialized were: Jeptha C. Clemens, Katherine D. Ervin, Ernest Lane III, Grady F. Tollison Jr. and William R. Wilson Jr.
The service was held on Oct. 8 at the Supreme Court in Jackson.
Bar President-elect Rhea Tannehill of Oxford read the Bar’s memorial resolution and read each name out loud.
Mississippi Bar President Meade Mitchell of Ridgeland in the eulogy said, “Each of the lawyers we honor today served their clients, the legal system and the pursuit of justice very well. Some of them practiced many years, and for others, their time with us was too short.”