A celebration of life for Knoxville attorney Brian Trammell is planned for Saturday, 10 a.m., at Church Street United Methodist Church, 900 Henley St. in Knoxville. Trammell, past president of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association, died Sunday. He practiced with Trammell, Adkins and Ward PC. Memorial gifts in Trammell's honor may be sent to Church Street United Methodist Church towards the construction of a memorial garden at P.O. Box 1303, Knoxville, TN, 37901. Online condolences may be posted here.

Attorney Brian Trammell, who practiced with the Knoxville firm of Trammell, Adkins and Ward PC, has died. Trammell is the past president of the Tennessee Defense Lawyer Association. No funeral arrangements have been announced at this time.

Attorney Claude Galbreath Swafford, one of the first 100 women lawyers in Tennessee, died today (March 25) at age 90. Swafford was one of two women in her class at the University of Tennessee College of Law, a class that included her husband, the late Howard Graham Swafford. A passionate advocate for education, she was a member of the Marion County School Board for 20 years and served as president of the Tennessee School Board Association. Swafford was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve on the board of the National Legal Services Corporation and was later appointed to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. A funeral is planned for Monday, 4 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Jasper, 108 W 3rd St. The family requests no flowers, but contributions may be made to the Claude Galbreath Swafford and Howard G. Swafford Scholarship Endowment at UT College of Law. Read more about her life. 

Claude Galbreath Swafford was a featured speaker for the TBA Leadership Law program in Chattanooga in 2006, appearing on a panel titled: "Making a Difference: Lawyer Leaders in the Community."

(Information provided by the family of Claude Galbreath Swafford)

The Kentucky State Senate this week recognized University of Tennessee College of Law grad Charles Berger, who died at age 80 on March 14. Berger was recognized for his public service, which included a term on the Kentucky Public Service Commission and four terms in the Kentucky State Senate where he rose to the position of president pro tempore, the Harlan Daily Enterprise reports.

Knoxville attorney Hoyt Gene Bell died Monday (March 21) at age 78, according to the Knoxville Bar Association. Following his graduation from the Tennessee School for the Blind in Donelson and the University of Tennessee College of Law, Bell practiced law for 53 years. He was chairman of the Knox County Election Commission from 1979 to 1991. The family will receive friends tomorrow from 5-7 p.m. at Dante Baptist Church, 314 Brown Dr. SW in Knoxville. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dante Baptist Church building fund, American Cancer Society or Young-Williams Animal Shelter.

Retired Maryville attorney Roy D. Crawford died Sunday (March 20) at age 94. Following service in World War II, Crawford graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1948. He practiced in Maryville until 2000, when he retired at age 79. Crawford also represented Blount County in the Tennessee Senate from 1960 to 1966. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home in Maryville will handle arrangements, which are incomplete at this time.

Knoxville attorney Jack W. Piper Jr. died Wednesday (March 16), according to the Knoxville Bar Association. Piper, who graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1984, practiced with Piper, Ramsey & Hill. He also practiced with O'Connor, Petty, Child and Piper. The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. tomorrow at Grace Baptist Church, 7171 Oak Ridge Highway in Knoxville. A service will follow at 7 p.m.

Lenoir City Municipal Court Judge Terry Vann died Sunday (March 13) following a yearlong battle with cancer. He was 68. Vann served as city judge for 16 years and previously served as Lenoir City attorney. “He always had a passion for the area and its people, and he’s going to be greatly missed,” said Amber Scott, assistant city administrator for Lenoir City. Read more from the News-Herald.

TBA Senior Counselor Alden Hitchcock Smith Jr. died Feb. 25 at the age of 84. After serving in the Navy, Smith received his law degree from Vanderbilt University. He spent his legal career in the Trust Department of Third National Bank. After retiring from the bank, he entered private practice and continued to help many families with their estate planning. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 4815 Franklin Road, Nashville, TN 37220.