Memphis attorney William Carey Bateman Jr. died Nov. 26 at age 87. He graduated from East High School in 1956 and after a year at the University of Tennessee, enlisted in the U.S. Army. Batemen went on to graduate from Memphis State Law in its first graduating class of 1965. In his more than 40 years of practice, he was a partner at Johnson & Bateman, Bateman & Childers, and Bateman Gibson. He also served as an assistant city attorney during two mayoral administrations and as a JAG in the Navy reserves. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. CST on Dec. 5 at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis 38119. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 6 at First Evangelical Church, 735 Ridge Lake Blvd., Memphis 38120. A private burial will occur at Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Judge and Mrs. William Carey Bateman Memorial Scholarship at Union University.

Knoxville attorney John Thomas “Tommy” Baugh died last week at age 83. Baugh earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law in 1965 and practiced for more than 55 years, forming close friendships with many colleagues throughout his career. A celebration of life will be held Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. EST at Rose Funeral & Cremation – Mann, 6200 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37919. Donations in Baugh’s memory may be made to the Fannin County Historical Museum, 411 West First St., Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513.

Rep. Jeff Burkhart, R-Clarksville, has died at age 63, WKRN reports. He graduated from Vol State Community College and was a small business owner and a member of the Church of Christ. Burkhart has been a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for four years. In a statement, the House Republican Caucus said its members are "deeply saddened by the passing of our dear colleague ... He served with dedication, humility and a genuine love for the people of Montgomery County and the great state of Tennessee." Tributes from both parties highlighted Burkhart's work on infrastructure, education, public safety and support for first responders, as well as his kindness and steady leadership. Local agencies, including Clarksville Fire Rescue and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, also honored Burkhart’s decades of service, noting his lasting impact on Montgomery County and the state capitol. Information about services will be released at a later date.

Chattanooga attorney Robert Lee Brown died Nov. 9 at age 86. Brown earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1964 and served in the U.S. Army as a judge advocate attorney. He began his legal career in Atlanta before relocating to Chattanooga, where he became president and owner of Legal Title and Escrow Inc. According to his obituary, Brown served as a past chair of the TBA's Real Estate Section and as a past president of the Tennessee Land Title Association. Throughout his career, he was an instructor for the Tennessee Bar Association, Chattanooga Bar Association, Georgia Bar Association, Tennessee Association of Realtors and the National Business Institute. A celebration of life will be held Nov. 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. CST at the Heritage Landing Community Clubhouse on Heritage Landing Drive in North Chattanooga.

Dickson native Gary John Meise died Oct. 21 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 60. Meise graduated from Vanderbilt University and began his career as a science teacher at Donelson Christian Academy. He later earned his law degree from Vanderbilt Law School in 1977 and went to work as an associate attorney for Bass Berry & Sims in Nashville. Eventually he relocated to Baton Rouge where he was involved in a number of community groups. A memorial service will be held Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. CST at Dickson First Presbyterian Church, 212 N Main St., Dickson 37055. The family asks that memorial gifts to be made to the Dickson County Help Center, Together Baton Rouge or Baton Rouge University Presbyterian Church.

Services will be held tomorrow, Oct. 29, for former Nashville judge and attorney Stanley A. Kweller, who died last night. The funeral will take place at The Temple, 5015 Harding Pike, Nashville 37205 at 1 p.m. CDT. Interment will follow at The Temple cemetery. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed on Zoom. Register here to receive the link. Shiva minyans will take place on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the home of Sandra & Steve Hecklin, 6052 Robin Hill Rd., Nashville 37205. Kweller presided over Davidson County’s 4th Circuit Court from January 2023 to August 2024 following the passage of Judge Phil Smith. He also was a prosecutor in upper East Tennessee and practiced family law in Nashville at Kweller Law. Arrangements were announced by Circuit Court Judge Stephanie J. Williams. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Nashville Wine Auction, Park Center Nashville or The Temple.

Knoxville attorney Roy Lewis Aaron died Oct. 6 at age 78. He received his degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1969, and his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law) in 1972. Licensed to practice in both Florida and Tennessee, Aaron joined the law firm of Hodges, Doughty & Carson in 1976 with a focus on estate planning and tax law, becoming a partner in 1980. He retired in 2017 but continued in an “of counsel” capacity with the firm. He was a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the Knoxville Bar Foundation. A memorial service will be held on Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. EST at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, 9132 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37923. Receiving of friends will follow in the Welcome Hall. Memorials may be made to the Clarence Brown Theatre, 1714 Andy Holt Ave., Knoxville 37916 or Friends of the Smokies.

Murfreesboro attorney John “Jock” Richardson Rucker died Oct. 8 at age 72. After earning his law degree from the then Memphis State University, Rucker returned to his hometown to join his family’s law practice, first established in 1860. For 43 years, Rucker practiced law alongside several family members, including his father and son. He served as president of the local bar association and was honored as a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation. Visitation with the family will be Oct. 19 from 2 to 6 p.m. CDT at One Church Calvary, 431 Dejarnette Lane, Murfreesboro 37130. The funeral service will be Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. at the church, with burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery. Donations in Rucker’s honor may be made to Alive Hospice, 1629 Williams Drive, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 or One Church Calvary, 431 Dejarnette Lane, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

Nashville attorney Raymond T. “Chip” Throckmorton III died Oct. 1 at age 60. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1988 and earned his law degree from the Nashville School of Law in 1993. Throckmorton practiced law for more than 30 years and served as mayor of Oak Hill from 2002 to 2006. A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. CDT on Nov. 1 at First Presbyterian Church of Nashville, 4815 Franklin Pike, Nashville 37220. Visitation will be held beforehand in Courtenay Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Chattanooga family law and criminal defense attorney Alan Ray Beard died Oct. 3 at age 69. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Southern Illinois University and served two tours in the U.S. Army, including time as a judge advocate general (JAG) attorney with the 101st Airborne. Details on a military service and celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by the Companion Funeral Home.