Knoxville lawyer Andrew Johnson Evans Jr. died Monday at 95. Following high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought overseas during World War II. He went on to earn his law degree at the University of Tennessee College of Law and launch a private practice. In 1968, he was elected to Knox County General Sessions Court, where he served through 1989. The family will receive friends at noon on Saturday at Berry Funeral Home, 3704 Chapman Highway, Knoxville 37920, with the funeral to follow at 2 p.m. EDT. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery, 4500 Woodlawn Pike, Knoxville 37920.

Stanley Daniel Kupiszewski Jr. of Tallahassee, Florida, died on Feb. 16. He was 89. Kupiszewski was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in combat during the Korean War before earning his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. During his career, Kupiszewski served as assistant attorney general for Florida and general counsel for the Florida Department of Education. He appeared before the Supreme Court, was a member of both the The Florida Bar and Tennessee Bar Association, was an adjunct professor at FSU and past president of the National Advocate Society where he was presented as its 1997 Man of the Year. Donations can be made in Kupiszewski’s name to the Kosciuszko Foundation, St. Jude or Blessed Sacrament or a charity of your choice.

Fayetteville lawyer R. Whitney Stevens Jr. died Feb. 9 at the age of 74. A 1975 graduate of the Cumberland Law School, Stevens began his law practice in Fayetteville with his father. At the time of his death, he was affiliated with the law firm of Stevens, Bagley & Stevens. Stevens served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. A memorial service was held last Saturday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Fayetteville First United Methodist Church, 200 Elk Ave. N., Fayetteville, TN 37334; or a Veteran's organization of the donor’s choice.

Retired Columbia lawyer Thomas Edward Lawwell died Feb. 12 at the age of 87. Funeral services were held today. Lawwell graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1961 and began a legal career in Columbia that spanned 50 years. He first worked at Shelton and Shelton, where he focused on real estate law and representing the phosphate industry. In the 1970s, he served as judge for the city of Columbia and attorney for the Columbia Power and Water System. In 1985, he established a partnership that eventually became Lawwell, Dale & Graham and established the Maury County Title Company with his law partners. During his later years, Lawwell represented the Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. Lawwell was a past president of the Maury County Bar Association, chair of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and member of a number of TBA committees.

Clarksville lawyer Pamela Gail Presson Vawter, formerly of Paris, died last Thursday at 50. She graduated from the Nashville School of Law and worked primarily for the state of Tennessee. Arrangements are being handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home in Paris and a private family graveside service is being planned. Memorial donations may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), P.O. Box 96929, Washington, D.C., 20090.

Knoxville lawyer Robert Phillip Murrian died Jan. 24 at the age of 76. His family recently announced that a celebration of life service will be held April 9 at noon EST at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6500 S. Northshore Dr., Knoxville TN 37919. The Knoxville Bar Association shared the news today.

Retired Judge Russell Lee Moore Jr. died on Jan. 28. He was 76. Judge Moore served as a circuit court judge in the 29th Judicial District, which includes Dyer and Lake counties, from 1997 until his retirement in December 2021. Moore was a graduate of the Mississippi School of Law and began practicing in 1971. Moore was a past president of the Dyer County Bar Association, a TBA member and a member of the Mississippi State Bar. A private family service will be held, per Judge Moore’s request. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the New Life Union Mission. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Former state senator Morgan “Brown” Ayres Jr. died Jan. 21 after a fall. He was 90 years old. Growing up in Knoxville, Ayres attended Knoxville public schools, the Kentucky Military Institute and the University of Tennessee. After serving in the Air Force as a staff sergeant during the Korean War, Ayres returned to Knoxville and joined his father as an investment banker with Cumberland Securities. In 1968, he was elected state senator, representing Knox County for eight years. Last March, Ayres received the University of Tennessee’s Accomplished Alumni Award. His grandfather, also named Brown Ayres, was the 12th president of the university. A memorial and celebration of life service will be held at Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church at 4 p.m. EST on March 25. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the church, the University of Tennessee or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Knoxville lawyer Karmen Latrice Waters died Jan. 5 after struggling for several months with a sudden medical condition. She was 50 years old. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she earned her law degree from the New England School of Law in Boston. She started her practice in 2004 and focused mainly on criminal defense. Later in her career, Waters transitioned to immigration law, founding the International Immigration Solutions Law Group with offices in Knoxville, Atlanta and Miami. Waters also served as a magistrate judge on the Knox County General Sessions Court. A service for family will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. EST at the West End Church of Christ, 8301 Walker Springs Ln., Knoxville, TN 37923. Memorial donations may be made "In Memory of Karmen Latrice Waters" to the church’s Hispanic ministry.

Knoxville lawyer Robert Phillip Murrian died Jan. 24 at the age of 76. Murrian earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1974 and later joined the school as an adjunct professor. Following graduation he served as law clerk for Judge Robert L. Taylor, worked at the firm of Butler, Vines & Babb, and then served as U.S. magistrate judge from 1978 to 2002. After retiring from the bench, Murrian practiced with Kramer Rayson, focusing on federal matters. In his last position, Murrian joined Pam Reeves and Celeste Herbert to establish the mediation firm Reeves, Herbert & Murrian. Among his many accomplishments, Murrian served as president of the Hamilton Burnett American Inns of Court, was a member of the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors, and received the association’s Law and Liberty Award and Governors’ Award. Friends of the family are invited to send cards to Sue Murrian at 531 South Gay #403, Knoxville TN 37902. A celebration of life service will be held April 9 at noon EST at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6500 S. Northshore Dr., Knoxville TN 37919. The KBA announced the news.