Judge Robert Ernest Cupp Jr. died Feb. 4 at age 86. Cupp earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1971. He worked in private practice, served as assistant district attorney general, director of Legal Services of Upper East Tennessee and assistant district attorney general in the First Judicial District. In 1998, he was elected criminal court judge for the district, a position he held for 16 years. Memorial gifts may be made to Grace Fellowship Church, 2314 S. Greenwood Dr., Johnson City, TN 37604; Shriners Hospital, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607; or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Linda Ruth Sloan Fizer died Feb. 7 at age 80 after a brief illness. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Austin Peay State University and her law degree from Nashville School of Law. In 1980, Fizer opened her own law practice and became the first woman to open a private practice law firm in Cheatham County. In 1998, she moved her law office from Ashland City to Springfield. She initiated and served on the first governing board of Leadership Cheatham County and initiated and served on the first board of the Cheatham County Education Foundation. Memorial contributions may be sent to either Hospice Promise Foundation or Walden’s Puddle. Donations also may be sent in care of the Robertson County Funeral Home, 2201 Memorial Blvd., Springfield, TN 37172 for distribution.

Edward Bruce Foster Jr. died March 7 at age 88. Foster earned his undergraduate degree in business from the University of Tennessee (UT) and his law degree from the UT College of Law. Following law school, Foster received a commission as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, serving on active duty in France from 1959-1963. In 1991, he joined Bass, Berry and Sims, opening its first Knoxville office. Foster served as president of the Knoxville Bar Association, was a member of the Tennessee State Constitutional Convention of 1977, and served as a special justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court during Gov. Lamar Alexander’s administration. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Second Presbyterian Church, the E. Bruce and Mary Evelyn Foster Scholarship at UT Law, Knoxville Knox County-CAC Mobile Meals, or do what Foster did best — do something kind for someone else.

J. Lewis Kinnard died March 17 at age 92. Kinnard earned his law degree at the University of Tennessee College of Law after serving two years of active duty at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After graduation, he practiced law in Sweetwater, where he also served as Monroe County judge and Sweetwater municipal attorney. Kinnard later practiced law in Madisonville for 62 years and served as board chair for Wood Home in Sweetwater and as a board member for the Tellico Reservoir Development Agency. Donations may be made to Sweetwater Boy Scout Troop 98, P.O. Box 450, Sweetwater, TN 37384; Monroe County Courthouse, 105 College St. S., Madisonville, TN 37354; or Resurrection Presbyterian Church, 6900 Nubbin Ridge Dr., Knoxville, TN 37919.

William Russell “Bill” Rice died Feb. 14 at age 85. After graduating from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Rice began working at the University of Tennessee (UT) Hospital in Knoxville as a billing agent. He later attended UT College of Law, continuing to work full time at the hospital. Rice earned his law degree in 1976. He joked that his record as a trial lawyer was one and zero, after successfully representing one client in one courtroom trial. Throughout his career, Rice served in a number of leadership roles, including as CEO of the UT Hospital, where he oversaw the development of new medical facilities. He later became chancellor of the UT Health Science Center in Memphis before retiring.

Gary Rubenstein, known as “Rube,” died Feb. 1. Rubenstein earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School. He began his legal career clerking at Schulman, LeRoy & Bennett in Nashville while in law school, eventually becoming a partner with the firm. He worked there until his retirement in 2023. Rubenstein’s practice focused primarily on insurance defense, surety bond issues and landlord-tenant matters, serving management companies in the Middle Tennessee area. He also lectured on landlordtenant issues and real estate law and taught business law at John Gupton College of Mortuary Science for more than 30 years. Memorials may be made to The Jimmy Fund at www.jimmyfund.org.

Herbert S. Sanger Jr. died Feb. 9 at the age of 88. A graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law, Sanger spent the bulk of his career working for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), where he started as a staff attorney and rose through the ranks to become deputy general counsel, associate general counsel and finally general counsel in 1975. He served as board chair of the TVA Retirement System from 1975 to 1986. In 1986, Sanger transitioned to private practice, joining the law firm of Wagner, Myers & Sanger. He also served as an assistant professor of administrative law at the University of Tennessee College of Law. Sanger retired after 57 years of practicing law. Memorial donations may be made to the Beckly Area Foundation’s Oak Hill High School Alumni Association under the Shelton and Rita Sanger Fund, 1210 S Kanawha St., Beckley, WV 25801.

Julia “Judy” Stokes Sayle died Jan. 30 at age 84. After receiving her degree in elementary education in 1962, Sayle became a legal secretary, but later enrolled in night classes and graduated with a law degree in 1970 from the then- Memphis State University. She worked in private practice with Pope, Sayle & Douglas until she and her husband opened their solo practice, Sayle & Sayle Attorneys, where she served until retirement. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to Daughters of the Nile Endowment Fund benefiting Shriners Children’s or a charity of the donor’s choice. |||

Access to Justice Community Mourns Loss of Upper Cumberland Legal Advocate

Marie Ferran, a legal professional and advocate in Cookeville, died Feb. 19 at the age of 67. After earning her law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Ferran combined her intellect and compassion to build a career focused on service and advocacy. As the executive director of the Area Agency on Aging, Ferran worked to protect and support the elderly. She was an advocate for domestic violence survivors, at-risk youth and health care equality, often donating her legal expertise beyond her official roles. Her dedication extended to serving on boards for organizations that supported women’s health and vulnerable populations.

Donations in Ferran’s memory can be made to Aging Services for the Upper Cumberland by mail at 580 S Jefferson Ave, Ste B, Cookeville, TN 38501. Aging Services for the Upper Cumberland serves individuals over the age of 60 and other adults with disabilities in 14 counties. |||