Morristown attorney Gary E. Brewer died March 31 at age 79. He received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1969. Brewer was a member of the Hamblen County and Tennessee Bar Associations and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, where he served as president from 1988-1989. He was also a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Tennessee Appellate Court Nomination Committee from 1988 to 1992, and a member of the Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission from 1994 to 2006, serving as chairman for two of those years. Brewer was senior partner at Brewer & Terry PC in Morristown. A memorial will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on April 19 in the East Chapel of Allen Funeral Home, 200 Jaybird Rd., Morristown 37814, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 3 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Friends of Hospice Serenity House, 421 N. High St., Morristown, TN 37814.

Dyersburg lawyer Charles “Bubba” Maurice Agee Jr., age 76, died March 25 at his home at Clover Creek Ranch in Hornbeak. A graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Agee launched his legal practice in 1976 in Dyersburg and spent his career in the courtroom as a plaintiff’s lawyer. He also held several elected offices, including alderman at large and city judge for the city of Dyersburg. A memorial service will be held April 12 at 4 p.m. CDT at Dyersburg Funeral Home, 420 US-51, Dyersburg 38024. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. Memorial donations may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Protect Democracy or National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Mt. Juliet attorney Bethel Dean Robinson died Feb. 12 at age 84. He graduated from Belmont University with a degree in history and spent several years teaching there and at Panola Junior College (now Panola College) in Carthage, Texas. Robinson earned his law degree from Memphis State University College of Law (now University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law) in 1974. He began his practice as a general attorney, eventually focusing on property law. A highlight of his legal career was winning a federal civil rights suit for his client, who claimed she was wrongfully discharged in 1975 based on sex discrimination. Plans for a celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

The Memphis Bar Association (MBA) will host its annual memorial service on April 24, beginning at noon CDT, for members who have died over the past year. The in-person event will take place at Calvary Episcopal Church, 102 N. Second St., Memphis 38103. Learn more and see the list of attorneys being honored.

Knoxville attorney J. Lewis Kinnard has died 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. Visitation will be held April 6 at Resurrection Presbyterian Church, 6900 Nubbin Ridge Dr., Knoxville from 3 to 4:30 p.m. EDT. A funeral service will follow at 4:30 p.m. EDT. A second service will be held April 7 at the Monroe County Courthouse in Madisonville from 3 to 6 p.m. EDT. 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 at the above address.

Knoxville attorney 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. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. EDT on April 12 at Second Presbyterian Church, 2829 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37919, with a reception to follow. 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.

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 healthcare 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. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on March 8 with a visitation at 11 a.m. and a service at noon CST at Cookeville First United Methodist Church, 165 East Broad St., Cookeville 38501. There will be a reception following the service in Jeff Wall Hall.

William Russell "Bill" Rice died recently at age 86. 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.

Judge Robert Ernest Cupp Jr. died Feb. 4 at age 86. Cupp earned his law degree from the 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. Memories and condolences may be shared at Tetrick Funeral Services.

Linda Ruth Sloan Fizer died Feb. 7 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. A visitation with the family was held Feb. 12. 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.