Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge John Everett Williams will lie in state from noon until 3 p.m. CDT on Monday in the Nashville Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. N. Attorneys and the public are welcome to pay their respects in the courtroom. Williams died unexpectedly on Sept. 2. He was 68. Visitation will take place on Sept. 13 from 2 to 8 p.m. CDT at the Dilday-Carter Funeral Home, 650 High Street in Huntingdon. Services will be held on Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. CDT at the Huntingdon First United Methodist Church, 201 Asbury Circle, Huntingdon. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on Williams’ legacy, including stories and remembrances from the judiciary.

Twentieth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Phil Smith died unexpectedly on Sunday. He was 62. Former Gov. Phil Bredesen first appointed Smith to the bench in 2009. He was elected to the role in 2010, 2014 and 2022 and on Thursday had become the presiding judge of the 20th Judicial District. Before his time with the court, Smith was an assistant district attorney in the 20th Judicial District and later served as a special judge for the Davidson County 2nd Circuit Court, 5th Circuit Court, Probate Court and as a special referee for the Davidson County Juvenile Court. He also served as a hearing panel member on the Board of Professional Responsibility. In private practice, he worked for the Norman Law Firm and Robinson, Smith and Oglesby. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on visitation and funeral arrangements for Smith.

Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge John Everett Williams died on Friday. He was 68. In 1998, Williams was appointed to the court by former Gov. Don Sundquist and was retained in elections in 2000, 2006, 2014 and 2022. He was named presiding judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals in 2018, making him the first judge from West Tennessee to hold that position in 25 years. Williams practiced law in Huntingdon for 17 years before his appointment to the court. He served as chairperson of the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program for several years and was a strong advocate for the organization. Williams was known for his colorful dress and bowties as well as summer seersucker suits. He was a longtime member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He was also an established thespian, dazzling audiences at the Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center just last month. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. Condolences may be left here.

James Reynolds Cunningham of Mosheim died on June 30. He was 76. Cunningham earned his law degree from Florida State University College of Law in 1969 and was admitted to practice in Florida, New York and Tennessee. He practiced for 34 years in Orlando, focusing on general civil trial practice in state and federal courts. Cunningham was a member of the Republican Presidential Task Force Advisory Committee to President Ronald Reagan and the Republican Leadership Council under George W. Bush. Memorials may be sent to Amedisys Hospice Care, 127 Serral Drive, Greeneville, TN 37745 or the First Presbyterian Church of Greeneville, 110 N. Main St., Greeneville, TN 37743.

Frank Lee Watson Jr., an attorney who played a key role in bringing FedEx to Memphis, died on Aug. 25. He was 81. Watson practiced at some of Memphis’ most historic firms and represented many significant clients. While practicing in Little Rock, Watson was part of the legal team that helped the Rolling Stones enter the United States after their work visas were threatened due to some of the band members’ drug issues. After moving to Memphis, Watson joined Waring Cox as partner and helped secured landing rights for FedEx at the Memphis International Airport and helped take the company public. He later worked at Baker Donelson and retired in 2019. Funeral services will take place tomorrow at 10 a.m. CDT at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 3863 Summer Ave. in Memphis. Read more from the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis lawyer and TBA Senior Counselor Wanda Stovall Donati died Aug. 22 at the age of 80. Donati began her career as a social worker, later attending law school as a single mother. Following graduation, Donati joined Memphis Area Legal Services, where she met Don Donati, the man who would become the love of her life and her law partner. Early in their practice, the couple fought to desegregate Memphis area nursing homes. Later they built a social security disability practice aimed at helping the least fortunate. Visitation will be held Sept. 23 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. CDT followed by a celebration of life at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, 1934 Poplar Ave., Memphis 38104. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mid-South Food Bank, 3865 S. Perkins Rd., Memphis, TN 38118, or the charity of one’s choice.

Knoxville lawyer George W. Morton Jr. died Aug. 24 just days shy of his 95th birthday. A 1949 graduate of the University Tennessee College of Law, he served for many years with Morton & Morton PLLC. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the G.W. Morton & Birdie Mae Morton Memorial Scholarship at Lincoln Memorial University, Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752. A private graveside service will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville.

Chattanooga lawyer William Deaderick Moon Jr. died Aug. 27 at the age of 97. An Army veteran, Moon received the expert infantry badge, Bronze Stars, the French Legion of Honor and the Purple Heart. Following discharge, he attended Vanderbilt University Law School and passed the Tennessee Bar Exam before graduating. Moon began practicing law in 1950. He won several cases before the Tennessee Supreme Court during a distinguished career that lasted 58 years. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. EDT. A memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. EDT. Both will take place at the First Presbyterian Church, 554 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga 37402. Interment will be in the Chattanooga National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to the donor’s favorite charity.

Graveside services were held earlier this month for retired Jackson defense attorney Roger Alan Staton. Staton passed away on Aug. 10. He was 68. Staton earned his law degree from Stetson University College of Law and became licensed in Tennessee in 1988.  

Knoxville attorney Lawrence McLean House Sr. passed away on Aug. 12 after an extended illness. He was 81. A graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, House began practicing law in Knoxville in 1967. A celebration of House’s life is scheduled for Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. EDT at Link-House Field on Cherokee Boulevard. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Coach House Memorial Fund at Knox Youth Sports, 5908 Lyons View Pike Knoxville, TN 37919. These gifts will be used at Link- House field.