The Tennessee judiciary is mourning today’s death of retired Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Jerry L. Smith. A 1978 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Smith was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals in 1995 by then-Gov. Don Sundquist. He was elected to a full term on the bench in 1996 and was reelected in 1998 and 2006. Prior to joining the bench, Smith worked for the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office as an assistant attorney general and deputy attorney general. For many years, he was an instructor at the Nashville School of Law. After his retirement from the bench in 2014, he taught at the Belmont University College of Law as an adjunct faculty member. Read more about his career from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Chattanooga attorney Hugh Pierce Garner, a resident of Signal Mountain, died Wednesday at 87. A graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Garner practiced law in Chattanooga for 62 years. While at the University of Tennessee as an undergraduate, Garner was a four-year starter on the football team, a member of the National Championship team of 1951 and recipient of the Roy N. Latspeich Memorial UT Scholastic Award. Following graduation he served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserve. Due to pandemic restrictions, there will be no public funeral services. A private family graveside service will be held in Jasper, near to where Garner was born. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lassiter Cemetery, c/o Mr. Jim Holtcamp, 411 Sawmill Branch Ln., Sequatchie, TN 37374 or a charity of the donor’s choice.

A fund has been created by the friends and family of longtime Chattanooga prosecutor Stan Lanzo to honor his life and commitment to those children less fortunate. The Stan Lanzo Christmas Fund will provide Christmas presents to the Chattanooga area foster children with a particular emphasis on older children. Lanzo died on Feb. 4 after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. Those who wish to contribute to the fund may do so online or by mailing contributions to Stan Lanzo Christmas Fund, Chattanooga Bar Foundation, 801 Broad St., Suite 420, Chattanooga, TN 37402.

Jackson attorney Michael Jayson Cash died on Feb. 2. He was 57. Cash earned his law degree from Nashville School of Law in 2003. He served as the co-owner of D&C Equipment and practiced law for 19 years. He was a member of the Madison County Bar Association and the Jackson Rotary Club, where he was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. Services were held for Cash last week at Ridgecrest Cemetery. If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; The Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905; or the charity of choice.

Memphis lawyer Allen Taylor Malone died yesterday at 79. A graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School, Malone first served as a special agent with the FBI for three years. He began his law practice in Memphis in 1969 with Apperson Crump. He joined Burch, Porter & Johnson as a member in 2000 and practiced law there until he retired in 2018. Malone was named a top lawyer in environmental litigation, fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year by the Memphis Bar Association. Services will take place at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Memphis Area Legal Services, St. Mary’s Episcopal School, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Former Hamilton County prosecutor and later private attorney Stanley Joseph "Stan" Lanzo has died at a facility in Boston, Chattanoogan.com reports. A native of Revere, Massachusetts, Lanzo graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1968. He joined the office of Hamilton County District Attorney Gary Gerbitz and handled a number of high profile cases, including the 1975 prosecution of Kenneth Stanley King and Jackie Renner Robinson, who were accused of killing Hixson dentist Robert P. Elliott. Robinson, who was the suspect in multiple murders for hire, was convicted and later died in prison. Lanzo went on to practice law for 54 years.

Rogersville lawyer William Erwin “Bill” Phillips died Jan. 20 after a two-week battle with COVID-19. He was 73. Phillips served in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne and taught ballistic meteorology at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After being discharged, he returned to Tennessee to complete a bachelor’s degree and law degree at the University of Tennessee. He joined the law practice of Phillips & Hale with his father, brother and cousin Winfield B. Hale Jr. He worked there for 45 years. He also served as Rogersville city attorney. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Rogersville Heritage Association or the Salvation Army. Online condolences may be shared at www.christiansells.com.

Humanitarian, community leader and former state Rep. David Shepard died Feb. 4 at 73. He had been battling cancer for the past several months and recently contracted COVID-19, the Tennessean reports. A Democrat from Dickson, Shepard represented District 69 for 16 years. Among his legislative accomplishments were several bills that benefited veterans and supported local infrastructure. Shepard served on the Dickson City Council for 12 years and as vice-mayor for more than a decade. A private family service will be held with a celebration of life planned for a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum, the Dickson First United Methodist Church or Dickson County Habitat for Humanity.

Knoxville lawyer Emily Arline Winchester Guyton died Jan. 30 at age 87. A native of Biloxi, Mississippi, Guyton moved to Knoxville in 1962 with her physician husband and children. In 1971, she fulfilled a longtime dream when she graduated from the University of Tennessee College Law despite facing questions about whether the law was an appropriate profession for a woman and mother. Guyton opened a solo practice and later joined with Amelia and Harry Strauss. After they died, she joined Myron Ely to form the firm of Ely, Hogin & Guyton. When her son-in-law Matthew Frère earned his law degree, she joined him at Guyton & Frère. Her daughter, Kelly Guyton Frère, soon graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law and joined the firm. At various times, Guyton also served as a special judge in the Knoxville circuit and chancery courts. She retired from the practice of law in 2004. Several years ago, Guyton participated in the Knoxville Bar Association’s Legal History Video project. Listen to her interview. Per her request there will be no memorial service. Memorial donations may be made to the Dr. James R. Guyton Jr. Leadership Scholarship Endowment c/o Bethel University, Office of the President, 325 Cherry Ave., McKenzie, TN 38201. The fund supports health care personnel serving rural communities.

Memphis attorney Virginia Watson Griffee passed away on Dec. 11. While in law school at the University of Memphis, Griffee served as Comments Editor on the Law Review and graduated in the top ten percent of her class. After graduation, she clerked for Judge Harry Wellford on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She then worked as an associate attorney for Armstrong Allen, and later as in-house counsel for Great Western Consumer Finance Group until the early 1990s. At the time of her death, Griffee was a solo practitioner, specializing in Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts, Probate and Elder Law. A memorial service for Griffee will be held at a later date.