Cleveland-born attorney Charles Lynn Almond died Nov. 16 at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas. Almond received his law degree from Vanderbilt Law School in 1974 where he was Order of the Coif and managing editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He worked at Vinson & Elkins in both Houston and Washington, D.C., specializing in federal income tax matters and working extensively with Congressional, Treasury and Internal Revenue personnel on both technical and tax policy issues relating to public finance. After returning to Texas and retiring from his public finance tax practice, he joined Bracewell LLP as a partner in the Public Finance section. He retired  in August. The Cleveland Banner has more on Almond’s life and suggested organizations to send contributions in his honor.

Signal Mountain attorney Joseph Fountain Timberlake Jr. died on Nov. 16 at 93. After serving three years in the U.S. Marine Corps, during which time he received a Purple Heart Medal, Timberlake attended the University of Tennessee College of Law on the G.I. bill and graduated first in his class in 1951. He practiced general civil law in Chattanooga for 68 years. A graveside service with military honors was held earlier today at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans. 

Jennifer “Jenny” Ann Jenson of Hixson died Nov. 17 at the age of 60. A graduate of Rhodes College and the University of Memphis School of Law School, Jenson practiced law in Memphis for many years and was a founder of the Memphis Bar Association’s Real Estate Section. After retiring from the practice of law, Jensen launched a second career as a freelance writer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society or to CHI Memorial Foundation. Chattanoogan.com has the full obituary.

Knoxville lawyer David Vance “Van” Martin died Monday at the age of 71. Originally from Sale Creek, Martin earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law and practiced law in Knoxville for five decades. Two memorial services will be held. The first will take place this Sunday at 4 p.m. EST, with receiving of friends beginning at 3 p.m., at Calvary Baptist Church, 3200 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37919. The second service will be held Nov. 24 at 4 p.m. CST, with receiving of friends beginning at 3 p.m., at First Baptist Church Gallatin, 205 East Main St., Gallatin 37066.

Coffee County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Timothy R. Brock died over the weekend while attending a national judicial training in Nevada. Brock, 62, earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee in 1982 and was first elected as general sessions judge in 1990. He later added juvenile court jurisdiction to his duties in 1998 and presided over the Coffee County Drug Recovery Court, Mental Health Court, Family Treatment Court, Juvenile Recovery Court and the Safe Baby Court at the time of his death. You can leave a remembrance or condolence for Judge Brock on the Tennessee State Courts website.

Knoxville lawyer Daniel Fisher McGehee died Oct. 29 at the age of 75. McGehee graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1964 and joined the National Guard, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class. From 1969 to 1971 he worked for a political consulting firm in Washington, D.C., where he ran polling for Howard Baker’s first statewide election. McGehee returned to Tennessee to attend the University of Tennessee College of Law, graduating in 1974. He then founded his own law firm in downtown Knoxville where he remained the principal partner for the remainder of his life. A celebration of life and reception will be held Friday at 3 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 800 S. Northshore Dr., Knoxville 37919.

A memorial service was held over the weekend for Lebanon attorney Comer Lewis Donnell, who died Oct. 24 at 79. Donnell earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School, afterwards serving as city attorney for Lebanon and Watertown, Wilson County attorney, and director of petroleum taxes for the state. In 1989, Donnell was appointed, and later elected, public defender in the 15th Judicial District where he worked until his retirement in 2018. Memorial donations may be made to College Hills Church of Christ, 1401 Leeville Pike, Lebanon 37090; Lebanon Gideon Camp, P.O. Box 591, Lebanon 37088; or the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 530 Church St., Ste. 300, Nashville 37219.

Knoxville lawyer Robert Louis Crossley Jr. died Oct. 24 at the age of 66. Born in New York state, Crossley was raised in Knoxville. He later attended Vanderbilt University for his undergraduate studies and the University of Tennessee College of Law for his law degree, which he earned in 1979. Crossley practiced with Baker, Worthington, Crossley, Stansberry & Woolf; Walt, Dyer and James; and Long, Ragsdale and Waters, mostly in the areas of administrative, regulatory and employment law. To honor Crossley’s wishes, there will be no services. Knox News has the full obituary.

Former Memphis state senator Reggie Tate has died. He was found dead in his home this morning, the Commercial Appeal reports. The Shelby County Democrat, who was defeated in an August 2018 primary, was 65. Ken Jobe, spokesman for the House Democratic Caucus, said it appeared Tate had died of natural causes. "We carried meaningful legislation together that made a difference in the lives of many across the state of TN," tweeted Rep. Antonio Parkinson, a fellow Memphis Democrat who described Tate as a friend. "He always made us smile when he was around. He will be missed."

Former House State and Local Government Committee Chair Rufus Jones has died, The Tennessee Journal reports. He was 79. Jones represented his Memphis district from 1981 to 1996 before embarking on a lobbying career. He was succeeded in the House by Rep. Barbara Cooper (D-Memphis), who said in a statement that “Rep. Jones was a tireless public servant who always gave back and worked hard to open doors for the people of South Memphis.”