A celebration of life will be held Sept. 22 for Micki Fox, longtime business manager of the Tennessee Law Review and continuing legal education (CLE) coordinator for the University of Tennessee College of Law. The event will take place from 5-8 p.m. EDT at the Emporium, 100 S. Gay St., Knoxville, TN 37902. For more details or to RSVP email stephanie.slater@tncourts.gov by Sept. 1. Any funds received in excess of expenses will be donated to the Tennessee Law Review Association in Fox’s honor.

Roy Octavius Parker, a Mississippi attorney and TBA senior counselor, died on July 25. He was 91. Parker earned his law degree from the University of Mississippi’s School of Law in 1959. During his career as a trial lawyer, Parker was a lifetime member and past president of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, which honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Parker was licensed in Tennessee in 1997. Graveside services with military honors for Parker were held on July 28 in Mississippi. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 1725, Tupelo, MS 38802.

Fountain City lawyer Michael L. DeBusk died on Aug. 11 at the age of 75. He served as an attorney for almost 40 years, first earning his law license in 1973. Visitation and a celebration of life were held today. . A graveside service will be held on Aug. 26 at 12:30 p.m. at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 2200 E. Gov. John Sevier Hwy., Knoxville 37920. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the American Diabetes Association. Online condolences can be left for the family on the Mynatt Funeral Home website.

Ralph Prater, who pioneered integration at what is now the University of Memphis, died Aug. 7, the Commercial Appeal reports. Prater was one of first Black students to enroll at what was then known as Memphis State in 1959. Along with students Rose Blakney, Sammie Burnett, Eleanor Gandy, Marvis LaVerne Kneeland, Luther McClellan, Bertha Mae Rogers and John Simpson, the group became known as the “Memphis State Eight.” His death leaves just Rogers and McClellan still living. In response, the university said Prater's impact on the institution and community “is immeasurable” and it “will forever celebrate his remarkable courage and legacy.”

The University of Tennessee College of Law on Friday announced the death of Micki Fox, business manager of the Tennessee Law Review and continuing legal education (CLE) coordinator. Fox had been with the college for 50-plus years and had become known affectionately as the “mother of the Law Review.” Fox began working with the publication in 1971 as a manuscript typist. Within the decade, she was promoted to senior bookkeeper and eventually business manager. Almost 20 years ago, Fox took on an additional role at the college, becoming the CLE coordinator. A private funeral service will be held at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel on Sunday at 1 p.m. Visitation with family and friends will take place at the chapel, 6200 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37919, after the funeral from 2-4 p.m. EDT. In addition, friends of the law school will host a celebration of Fox’s life and work on Sept. 22. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to E3: Elevating Education Everywhere, 11124 Kingston Pike, Ste. 119-169, Knoxville, TN 37934.

Services have now been set for longtime University of Tennessee College of Law staff member Micki Fox, who served as business manager of the Tennessee Law Review and continuing legal education coordinator and died in a pedestrian accident last week. A private funeral service will be held at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel on Sunday at 1 p.m. Visitation with family and friends will take place at the chapel, 6200 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37919, after the funeral from 2-4 p.m. EDT. In addition, friends of the law school will host a celebration of Fox’s life and work on Sept. 22. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to E3: Elevating Education Everywhere, 11124 Kingston Pike, Ste. 119-169, Knoxville, TN 37934.

Nashville lawyer Vincent Edward Wehby died July 23 at the age of 85. A 1961 graduate of the Vanderbilt University Law School, Wehby practiced law for more than 50 years, serving as an assistant U.S. attorney in Nashville and practicing law with his late brother Alfred. Wehby was affectionately called the “Godfather” of the Federal Public Defender’s Office, which recognized him as the first CJA Panel Lawyer of the Year. The award honors a lawyer who demonstrates a commitment to the vigorous representation of those unable to afford counsel. Wehby retired from law practice in 2017. Funeral services were held this past weekend. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Room in the Inn or the Legal Aid Society.

The University of Tennessee College of Law today announced the death of Micki Fox, business manager of the Tennessee Law Review and continuing legal education (CLE) coordinator. Fox had been with the college for 50-plus years and had become known affectionately as the “mother of the Law Review.” Fox began working with the publication in 1971 as a manuscript typist. Within the decade, she was promoted to senior bookkeeper and eventually business manager. Almost 20 years ago, Fox took on an additional role at the college, becoming the CLE coordinator. In 2015, she answered questions about her time at the school. Dean Lonnie T. Brown Jr. said in an email today said that Fox — “an institution” at the college of law — died yesterday evening. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Donald W. Rees, a co-founder of the law firm of Gordon & Rees died July 17 at the age of 86. He worked at the firm for nearly 50 years and saw it grow to be the 24th largest firm in the country. The firm has 74 U.S. offices, including an office in Nashville, which it opened in August 2018. Originally from Indiana, Rees graduated from Stanford Law and worked with a law firm in Los Angeles. He later joined the San Francisco firm of Fields Gordon & Rees. In 1974, Rees and his law partner Stuart “Stu” Gordon left the firm to start their own. The firm now operates as Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani. Above the Law has more on his life and the firm has a tribute. A celebration of life is scheduled for mid-August in California.

Lydia Amelia Babaoglu, longtime administrative assistant to the Shelby County Chancery Court, died June 19 due to complications from COVID. Born in Germany in 1945, Babaoglu immigrated to the United States with her parents and brother in 1950 and settled in New Jersey. While attending Rutgers University she met her husband Rehim Babaoglu, now an attorney with Lewis Thomason. They moved to Memphis to raise their family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Ballet Ensemble and School, 2157 York Ave., Memphis, TN 38104.