Nashville attorney Samuel Baron died Monday (July 29) at the age of 62. A graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Baron was licensed in 1977 and operated his own practice in the historic Music Row neighborhood. Visitation was held today, Thursday, at 5 p.m., followed by the life celebration service at 6 p.m. at West Harpeth Funeral Home.

Arrangements have been announced for Knoxville lawyer Ralph Harwell, who died Tuesday. The family will receive friends at Laurel Church of Christ, 3457 Kingston Pike, at 5 p.m. on Friday. A memorial service will follow at 7 p.m., also at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the medical mission Health Talents International, through which Harwell supported several children.

Knoxville lawyer Ralph Harwell, who practiced law for decades and acted as mentor to a generation of attorneys, died today (July 30) at the age of 69. Harwell grew up in Savannah and moved to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee, where he earned his law degree in 1969. He served as a law clerk to the chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court and later practiced as a Knox County assistant district attorney general. Harwell entered private practice in 1976 and became known for his work as a defense lawyer. He spent his last few years battling cancer but continued to practice law at Harwell & Harwell, and remained active in his practice until the last two weeks. Funeral arrangements were pending at press time. Knoxnews has more on his life.

The family of the late Tennessee Rep. Lois DeBerry announced plans for her funeral today. Family members are invited to a graveside service at Elmwood Cemetery Saturday at 11 a.m. A public “legacy celebration” will follow at noon at First Baptist Church Broad, located at 2835 Broad Ave., Memphis 38112. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators’ Lois M. DeBerry Memorial Fund or Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church. The Commercial Appeal reported the details.

Lois DeBerry, the longest serving member of the Tennessee House of Representatives died Sunday (July 28) from pancreatic cancer. DeBerry, 68, was the first black woman from Memphis to be elected to the House and climbed the ladder higher than any other African American woman in the chamber, earning the title of Speaker Pro Tempore. She served for more than 40 years. The Commercial Appeal and the Memphis Flyer have more on her life. Donations in DeBerry's honor may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at www.pancan.org. Funeral arrangements were pending at press time.

Shelton B. Hillman Jr., the longtime Bristol municipal court judge, died yesterday (July 18). He was 69 years old. He started practicing law in 1973 and maintained a law office for many years. He served as the municipal court judge for more than 30 years, processing traffic tickets on the Tennessee side of town, hearing animal control and other small cases. “He was a people’s judge,” City Attorney Jack Hyder said. “He wanted people who came into his court to feel like they were treated fairly and with respect.” Funeral arrangements had not been set Thursday evening, but are being handled by Oakley-Cook Funeral Home.

Lawyer and minister Alonzo D. Welch died Sunday (July 14) at age 95. A native of Mississippi and a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law, Welch later attended and taught at Lipscomb University in Nashville. He also was a long-time minister in the Churches of Christ, serving full-time at churches in Memphis and Nashville. Following many years of ministry, Welch established several charitable organizations including the Mississippi Christian Foundation, Sunnybrook Children’s Home, Natchez Trace Academy and Sunset Hill retirement facility. Visitation will be Thursday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Jackson, Miss. A memorial service will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Meadowbrook Church of Christ, also in Jackson.

William T. “Bill” Sellers died Tuesday (July 9) at 91. A veteran of World War II, Sellers graduated from the University of Virginia Law School and began practicing in Murfreesboro in 1950.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Woodfin Memorial Chapel in Murfreesboro. Visitation will begin one hour before the service. Burial with military honors will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Murfreesboro or the charity of your choice . Online condolences may be left for the family at www.woodfinchapel.com.

Kingsport native and attorney Michael La Guardia died yesterday (July 1). A graduate of East Tennessee State University, LaGuardia served as vice-president and secretary of Giant Foods Markets and started multiple computer companies before earning his law degree from the University of Tennessee. LaGuardia served as the first attorney on the Kingsport Drug Court panel and his office served Sullivan, Washington, Hawkins and other surrounding counties.

Judge Rodney Victor Ahles died from a stroke at his home on Sunday (June 30). He was 82. Ahles was appointed city judge for Lebanon in 1970, serving for almost four decades of unprecedented consecutive terms in office. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona, the Bachelor of Law Degree from Cumberland University, and the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Samford University. He entered private practice of law in Lebanon in 1967 and, as part of his practice, drafted legislation for the State of Tennessee Legislative Council, in both the House and the Senate, for five sessions of the General Assembly. He retired from the bench in 2005. Because there have been so many beautiful tributes honoring him during the period of his retirement from the bench, Judge Ahles requested that no additional local memorial service or visitation be held at the time of his death. A dedication ceremony will be planned for the near future. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to First Presbyterian Church in Lebanon.