Nashville lawyer Thomas Irvin Holman Jr. died Aug. 6 in Danville, Kentucky, at the age of 98. A 1943 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Holman served in the Army, as a partner in the Nashville law firm of Stephenson, Lackey and Holman, and as a faculty member of the YMCA Law School (now the Nashville School of Law). He also earned a bachelor of laws from Emory University in 1947. Holman later was named president of First Federal Savings and Loan Association, CEO of the Metropolitan Federal Savings and Loan Association and president of the Tennessee Savings and Loan League. A private family service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Family Services Association of Boyle County or Danville-Boyle County Humane Society.

The family of former TBA president and federal judge Pamela L. Reeves has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be given to the University of Tennessee College of Law, 1505 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN 37996 or the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, 2743 Wimpole Ave., Knoxville, TN 37914. The family also announced that a celebration of life "will be held when it is safe to hug as much as Pam would have wanted.” The TBA has created a webpage for members of the legal community to leave comments or memories about Judge Reeves, which will be featured on a tribute page.

Nashville lawyer John Clinton Hayworth died Tuesday. He was 52. A 1990 graduate of Colby College and 1993 graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School, Hayworth served a year as a federal district court clerk before entering private practice. He maintained a litigation practice at several area law firms include Bass, Berry & Sims; Walker, Tipps & Malone; and Butler Snow. Recently, he began teaching undergraduate business law at Belmont University. As a community leader, Hayworth served on the boards of Harding Academy, the Economics Club of Nashville and Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. A small private family service will be held tomorrow. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Hayworth’s high school, the Westminster School, 995 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, CT 06070.

Chief U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee Pamela L. Reeves died today at 66 after a battle with cancer. Though she was diagnosed in late 2018, Reeves continued her judicial duties without interruption and in April 2019 became the first female Chief Judge for the Eastern District. Tributes have been pouring in for Reeves, who was also the first female president of the Tennessee Bar Association. Her predecessor, U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan, called Reeves’ death a blow to the legal community. “Pam's contributions to the legal profession and our community were immense, and her service to the Eastern District as a judge and as chief judge was invaluable,” he said. Attorney General Herbert Slatery released a statement this afternoon commending Reeves’ perseverance and many accomplishments, noting she “not only accomplished a lot against long odds, she did it with a grace and determination rarely seen.” The TBA has created a webpage for members of the legal community to leave comments or memories about Judge Reeves.

The Tennessee legal community is mourning the loss of Washington County General Sessions and Juvenile Judge James A. Nidiffer, 66, who died Monday after a long illness. Nidiffer was first elected as a general sessions and juvenile judge in 2006. He previously served as municipal court judge in Johnson City and was a private practice attorney for more than 20 years. A graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Niddifer was active in his community, helping found the Washington County Mental Health Court and supporting services for the mentally ill. Judge Nidiffer temporarily stepped down from the bench this past June to focus on his medical treatment. Gov. Bill Lee appointed Janet Vest Hardin to serve as a special judge in his place.

Knoxville lawyer John David “J.D.” Lee, the uncle of Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee, died Monday at the age of 91. A 1954 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Lee first practiced law in Madisonville but later moved to Knoxville. He maintained a nationwide trial practice, focusing on wrongful death, medical malpractice, personal injury and defective products. He was a pioneer in bringing suits against tobacco companies and was part of the legal team representing Sept. 11 victims in lawsuits against Iran. Lee was president of every major national trial lawyers group as well as the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association and the Monroe County Bar Association. He was also active politically. Lee was president of the 1977 Tennessee Constitutional Convention and sought the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 1978. A memorial service will be held for family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the J.D. Lee Scholarship Fund c/o Tennessee Judicial Conference Foundation, 629 Woodland St., Nashville TN 37206. Donations are used for scholarships at the University of Tennessee College of Law.

Memphis attorney Lewis K. Garrison Sr. died on Sept. 2 at 88. Garrison served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and afterwards went on to earn his law degree from the University of Memphis School of Law. He practiced law in Memphis for 59 years trying many cases throughout his career, most notably the 1999 conspiracy trial involving the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Garrison was a member of the TBA, American Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Association and Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association. Visitation will be held Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. CDT at the chapel at Memphis Funeral Home in Bartlett on N. Germantown Rd. with funeral services immediately following at 2 p.m. The family asks that all visitors and attendees wear a mask and practice social distancing. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Memphis attorney Curtis S. Person Jr. has died at the age of 85, the Commercial Appeal reports. Person served as a state representative for Shelby County from 1966 to 1968, before switching from the Democratic to Republican party and winning a state senate seat in 1968. He stayed in the senate until 2006 — the longest uninterrupted term in the Tennessee legislature. During his tenure, Person served as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee for 20 years and authored the Tennessee law mandating jail time for drunken drivers. He was elected as Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge after leaving the legislature and served in that position until 2014. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at the Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38119. Funeral services will follow in the same location from 1 to 2 p.m. CDT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Judge Curtis S. Person Jr. to the Memphis Humane Society.

Nashville lawyer C. Raymond Myers Jr. died Aug. 14. A graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, he earned his law license in 1983 and according to his family, “cared deeply about his clients and was known to accept payment in firewood.” Myers served as president of the Williamson County Bar Association, did significant pro bono work and supported marginalized communities. He and his wife hosted 13 exchange students over the years and loved taking their children and visiting students on camping trips. In recent years, he hiked the full Appalachian Trail and John Muir Trail. The family says it will announce details of a memorial service soon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy or the First Church of Christ Scientist in Nashville.

Knoxville lawyer Philip J. Lawson died over the weekend. He was 77. Lawson earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1975 and was a founding member of Wimberly Lawson where he specialized in labor and employment law. For many years, Lawson served as a hearing committee officer of the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court, and he served as an arbitrator and mediator with the American Arbitration Association. He lectured and taught widely on a variety of aspects of labor, employment law and leadership. A celebration of life will be held tomorrow at 6 p.m. EDT at Corryton Church, 7615 Foster Rd., Corryton, Tennessee. Interment will be held at 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday at Mountain View Cemetery, 1019 E. Valley Dr. Bristol, Virginia.