Former state legislator Laban Ray DeFriese died Wednesday in Franklin at the age of 79. Born in Chattanoga, Mr. DeFriese was a graduate of Tyner High School, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Tennessee Law School. In the early 70s, he served in the Tennessee House of Representatives. He also created a successful business, Continental Caviar, and became one of only two Tennesseans ever featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the Heritage Funeral Home chapel. Visit the Chattanogan for more information.

Memphis lawyer Carl H. “Lang” Langschmidt Jr., 81, died Nov. 18 after a brief illness. After graduating from the University of Tennessee College of Law, Mr. Langschmidt served in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps and then returned to Memphis. He practiced for 45 years at Boone, Wellford, Clark, Langschmidt & Apperson and then at Armstrong, Allen, Prewitt, Gentry, Johnston & Holmes. He retired in 2002. Mr. Langschmidt served as a member of the Board of Law Examiners for 17 years and as a special judge in the Shelby County Circuit Court. He also represented the county in the Baker v. Carr suit, which culminated in a U.S. Supreme Court decision. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, the Memphis Boys Choir, WriteMemphis, or the charity of one’s choice. Read the full obituary in the Commercial Appeal

Attorney Thomas Henry "Tom" Ware of Goodletsville died Nov. 14. A graduate of Overton High School, Middle Tennessee State University, and the Nashville School of Law, Mr. Ware practiced law in Nashville for 28 years . He was elected to serve as the Davidson County Public Trustee in 1997 by the Metro Council, a position he helf for 15 years. He was a member of the American and Tennessee Bar Associations, the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, and was a Fellow of the Nashville Bar Association. A Celebration of Life service was held at Woodlawn's Dignity Hall on Nov. 17. Read the Tennessean obituary.

Nashville area lawyer Henry Houston Hagar died Nov. 17 at the age of 87. A 1950 graduate of the YMCA School of Law, Hagar worked as a claims attorney for 34 years with USF&G and Alexander & Alexander, living in Nashville, Chattanooga, Dallas and Little Rock. He went on to serve as a juvenile and night court judge for metro Nashville for 12 years, and served as a Metro Nashville councilman from 1979 to 1989. He retired in 2004 at the age of 81. Read the full obituary.

The Tennessee legal community is mourning the loss of Chancellor Billy Joe White, who died today after a short illness. Chancellor White, who sat on the bench for 35 years, presided over Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Scott and Union counties. He was a graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “Chancellor Billy Joe White served the state in the great tradition of country judges — full of common sense, wise counsel and fair dealing," Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Gary R. Wade said. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Memphis lawyer Herbert Wayne Vaiden Jr. died Nov. 12 from pancreatic cancer. He was 76. Vaiden earned his law degree from Memphis State University, where he was on the Law Review. He entered the private practice of law and also attained the rank of colonel as a reservist in the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Salvation Army, 696 Jackson Ave., Memphis TN 38105 or Methodist Hospice Residence Center, 6416 Quince Rd., Memphis, TN 38119. Read the full obituary in the Commercial Appeal

Knoxville lawyer Robert H. Leonard died Monday (Nov. 12) at age 87. He received his law degree from the University of Tennessee in 1947, then began his practice with the firm of White and Leonard, with O.L. White and his father, R.H. Leonard. He served as president of the Knoxville Bar in 1964-1965. In 1980, Mr. Leonard was elected the first mayor of Farragut, serving a total of six terms until 1993. He retired in 2010 after practicing law in Tennessee for 63 years. The family will receive friends 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel with a memorial service at 3 p.m. Interment at Pleasant Forest Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Christian Church of Knoxville, 211 West Fifth Ave., Knoxville 37917 or to The Optimist Club of Knoxville's Henry Naff Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 358, Knoxville 37901. Read his obituary

Lawyer Todd Hansrote was shot and killed by Clarksville Police Saturday night after he fired a weapon during a three-hour standoff during which police say he was threatening to kill himself and his wife if anyone entered his residence, the Leaf-Chronicle reports. A former gun shop owner, Hansrote practiced law with his wife, Suzette, at their downtown law firm Hansrote & Hansrote. He graduated from the University of Memphis and was admitted to the bar in 1991. Funeral service will be held on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Chapel. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. Read his obituary

Retired Memphis attorney Ross Bert Clark II died Thursday (Nov. 8) at his home. He was 79. Mr. Clark was a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and was active in the Tennessee legal community for many years, serving as a partner in the law firms of Laughlin Halle, Apperson Crump and Armstrong Allen. He also served as president of the Memphis & Shelby County Bar Association and was a co-founder of Memphis Area Legal Services and of the Memphis Bar Foundation. At the state level, Mr. Ross served as an officer of the Tennessee Bar Association and was a founder and president of the Tennessee Bar Foundation. He was also a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Services will be on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Calvary Episcopal Church, 102 North Second Street in Memphis. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Clark suggested gifts in his memory be sent to Calvary Church; Sewanee, the University of the South, 735 University Ave., Sewanee, TN 37383; The Baylor School, 171 Baylor School Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405; or a charity of the donor's choice.

Longtime Kingsport attorney Julian Kenneth Wright died Oct. 22 in his home. He was 88. Known by his friends and colleagues as Ken and recognized by his ever-present pipe, Mr. Wright was a native of Glen, Miss., graduated from Vanderbilt Law School and earned a Purple Heart in World War II, where he was injured in the Battle of the Bulge. His law practice spanned 61 years, which his family says brought him great pride and satisfaction. Learn more from Carter-Trent Funeral Home.