CLASS ACTION

Professional Notes
1950s
George P. Hewes III ('54), retired partner from Brunini Grantham Grower and Hewes law firm in Jackson, is the new executive director for Stewpot Community Services in Jackson, a ministry to the poor and downtrodden.
E. Otis Johnson Jr. ('56) is a member of Armstrong Allen in the firm's Jackson office.
Lenore L. Prather ('55), former chief justice of Mississippi, was granted an honorary doctorate at The Mississippi University for Women spring commencement. She is the school's former interim president.

1960s
Marshall Bennett ('67), the longest-serving treasurer in state history, will not seek re-election to a fifth term. Bennett plans to join the 60-year-old New York firm Wolf Popper LLP.
Richard M. Edmonson ('60) is a member of Armstrong Allen in the firm's Jackson office.
Guy W. Mitchell III ('68), shareholder and vice president of Mitchell, McNutt & Sams, P.A., in Tupelo, has been elected to the general administrative board of directors of BancorpSouth Inc., a six-state bank holding company headquartered in Tupelo.
Jimmie B. Reynolds ('69) is a member of the recently formed partnership Reynolds Cory & Rikard, LLP, in Jackson.
Pat H. Scanlon Sr. ('60) is a member of Watkins & Eager, PLLC, in Jackson.
Luther M. Thompson ('68) is a member of Armstrong Allen in the firm's Jackson office.

1970s
Robert A. Biggs III ('76) is a member of Armstrong Allen in the firm's Jackson office.
Charlie Brett ('75) is County Court judge in Lee County.
Claude F. Clayton Jr., ('73) a partner in the Tupelo law firm of Clayton Law Firm, PLLC, has merged his firm with the Oxford office of O'Donnell Walsh, PLLC. The firm is now Clayton O'Donnell Walsh, PLLC.
William M. Dalehite Jr. ('72) with Lanny R. Pace has formed the partnership Steen Dalehite & Pace, LLP, in Jackson.
Robert T. Gordon Jr. ('74) has joined the Jackson office of Mitchell, McNutt & Sams.
Mark D. Herbert ('78) has joined the Jackson law office of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A., as a shareholder.
Jamie G. Houston III ('76) has been appointed state chair of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Known as ACTEC, the college is a national association of more than 2,700 lawyers who have made outstanding contributions to the field of trust and estate law in their communities. Houston formerly served as chair of the Estates and Trust Section of the Mississippi Bar. He has practiced law with Watkins & Eager, PLLC, since 1979.
Randall D. Noel ('78) has been named chief executive officer of Armstrong Allen, PLLC, in Memphis.
Ben J. Piazza Jr. ('76) has rejoined Keyes and Bryson in Jackson as a partner and the firm name has been changed to Keyes, Bryson & Piazza.
Richard W. Pierotti ('78) has been elected for the 24th consecutive year as legal counsel for UNICO-Memphis Chapter, a nonprofit Italian-American charitable organization.
Robert M.P. Short ('72) has retired from law practice and turned to painting. He uses simple images and titles to convey very complex themes. Now a resident of Sewanee, Tenn., his works have been exhibited in New York City; Memphis, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Cleveland, Manchester, and Sewanee, Tenn.; Marietta, Ga.; and The University of Mississippi.
Grady F. Tollison Jr. ('71) of the Tollison Law Firm in Oxford received the Masters in Trial Award at the National Meeting of the American Board of Trial Advocates in San Francisco, Calif. ABOTA is comprised of both plaintiff and defense attorneys from all 50 states. The award recognizes exceptional participation in and support to the national MIT program.

1980s
Gene Berry ('85) has joined the Jackson office of Baker Donelson Bearman & Caldwell.
Richard R. Clippard ('80) has been appointed U.S. Trustee for Tennessee and Kentucky (Region 8). He served as interim U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville from May 2001 through February 2002. During that time he was also the chief of the Civil Division for the Nashville Office of the U.S. Attorney, a position he had held since 2000. Clippard joined the office as an assistant United States attorney in 1988.
John W. Ehrie ('86) serves as chief financial officer for Acuity Specialty Products Group, Inc., in Atlanta, Ga.
Kenny Hulshof ('83), U.S. Rep. (R-Mo.), received the 2003 Geyer Public Service Award from the University of Missouri-Columbia and the MU Alumni Association.
Jim Kelly ('86), former assistant district attorney for Madison and Rankin counties, has joined Frazer Davidson, P.A., in Jackson.
Michael P. Mills ('80), U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of Mississippi, was named Alumnus of the Year for 2002 at Itawamba Community College.
Franklin Myers ('88) has been named senior vice president and chief financial officer at Cooper Cameron Corporation (NYSE: CAM). He joined Cooper Cameron in 1995.
David D. O'Donnell ('85) and D. Bradley Walsh ('91) of the Oxford office of O'Donnell Walsh, PLLC, have merged their firm with Claude F. Clayton Jr., a partner in the Tupelo law firm of Clayton Law Firm, PLLC. The firm is now Clayton O'Donnell Walsh, PLLC.
J. Stuart Robinson Jr.('87) is a member of Armstrong Allen, PLLC, in the firm's Jackson office.
Joseph Henry Ros ('86) has joined Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A., in the firm's Gulfport office.
C. Stevens Seal ('87) is senior vice president and assistant general counsel with Cassidy and Associates in Washington, D.C.
Gary D. Wilson ('89) is of counsel with Akerman Senterfitt in Orlando, Fla.

1990s
Joseph M. "Jody" Barrett ('99) is a partner in Ramsey & Thornton, PLC, in Dickson, Tenn., and the firm's name has been changed to Ramsey, Thornton & Barrett, PLC.
Kimberly Irvin Brown ('96) is assistant district attorney for the First Circuit Court District in northeast Mississippi. She worked as staff attorney for North Mississippi Rural Legal Services and most recently was a law clerk in Chancery Court for the 1st Circuit.
Bryan P. Buckley ('97) has joined Chinn & Associates in Jackson. He is former district attorney for Hinds County.
H. Tobias Coleman ('98) is an associate with Watkins & Eager, PLLC, in Jackson.
Michael V. Cory Jr. ('94) is a member of the recently formed partnership Reynolds Cory & Rikard, LLP, in Jackson.
Lee A. Durrett ('99) is an associate with Mitchell, McNutt & Sams, P.A., in Tupelo.
Spencer J. Flatgard ('98) has joined the Jackson firm Smith Reeves, PLLC, as an associate.
William Parrish Fortenberry ('96) is vice president of Claims and Title Counsel for Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company in Jackson.
Elizabeth Ross Hadley ('99) has joined Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, P.A., in the firm's Oxford office.
Ronald L. Harper ('90) is a member of Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan, PLLC, in Memphis. He had been of counsel with the firm for four years.
Charles O. Lee ('98) has joined the Gulfport office of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A.
William W. McKinley Jr. ('94) is a shareholder with Currie Johnson Griffin Gaines & Myers, P.A., in Jackson.
Shannon D. McNeal ('95) has opened Shannon McNeal, LLC, in Atlanta, Ga., specializing in the needs of residential and commercial landlords and the needs of small businesses.
Patrick Michael Magann ('96) has joined Shott, Gurganus & Williamson in Bluefield, W.Va., as a partner.
Elizabeth Lee Maron ('95) has been named partner at the Jackson office of Adams and Reese, LLP. She is a member of the special business services practice group and specializes in employment law, real estate transactions, and general litigation.
Timothy D. Moore ('96) has become a shareholder with Currie Johnson Griffin Gaines & Myers, P.A., in Jackson.
Douglas C. Noble ('96) is a partner with Phelps Dunbar, LLP, in Jackson.
Lanny R. Pace ('94) and William M. Dalehite ('72) have formed the partnership Steen Dalehite & Pace, LLP, in Jackson.
Deana L. Patterson (Earnest) ('90) has opened her own firm in Tupelo and specializes in drafting legal briefs.
Lee Ann Rikard ('94) is a member of the recently formed partnership Reynolds Cory & Rikard, LLP, in Jackson.
Katharine Malley Samson ('90) has joined the Gulfport office of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A.
Susan C. Smith ('99) has been appointed city prosecutor for the city of Greenville.
William C. Spencer Jr. ('96) is a member of Mitchell, McNutt & Sams in Tupelo.
Adam Stone ('96) has joined Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis in Jackson.
Alan Keith Sudduth ('94) is county administrator to the Board of Supervisors for Jackson County.
J. Wade Sweat ('94) has been named shareholder at Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, PA, in Ridgeland.
H. Rhea Tannehill Jr. ('96) has opened Tannehill Law Firm, PLLC, in Oxford.
D. Bradley Walsh ('91) of the Oxford firm O'Donnell Walsh, PLLC, has merged with the Clayton Law Firm of Tupelo. The firm is now Clayton O'Donnell Walsh, PLLC, in Oxford.
Robert B. "Bo" White III ('99) has joined Mitchell, McNutt & Sams, P.A., in Tupelo.
Ralph A. Yelverton ('96) has become a member of the firm Stubblefield Harvey & Shivers, PLLC, and the firm name has been changed to Stubblefield Shivers & Yelverton, PLLC.

2000s
M. Garner Berry ('02) is associated with Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, P.A., in the firm's Jackson office.
Leo J. Carmody Jr. ('02) is a member of Armstrong Allen, PLLC, in the firm's Jackson office.
Dawn Davis Carson ('01) is associated with the Memphis law firm Heaton and Moore.
Sterling Ruffin Craig ('01) is an associate in the Memphis office of Gerrish and McCreary, P.C. He recently was awarded the LL.M. in tax at Villanova University School of Law.
Brian E. Drennan ('00) has joined the Jackson firm Watkins & Eager, PLLC, as an associate.
James H. Hall ('01) is an associate with Massey, Higginbotham & Vise, P.A., in Jackson.
S. Ray Hill III ('00) is an associate with the newly formed law office of Clayton O'Donnell Walsh, PLLC, in their Oxford office. He formerly was an associate with the O'Donnell Walsh firm.
Bradford D. Jones ('02) has opened his own law practice in Oxford.
Andy Lowry ('02) has joined Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, P.A., in Ridgeland, as a member of the firm's Healthcare Practice Group. He formerly clerked for Supreme Court Justice Kay B. Cobb.
Eloise Harris May ('00) is an associate with Wiles & Wiles in Marietta, Ga.
Richard C. Miller III ('01) is the founder/owner of Barritech Trial Consulting in Black Mountain, N.C. The company specializes in the use of courtroom technology as a means of presenting evidence to juries and judges.
Lisa Anderson Reppeto ('00) has joined the Jackson office of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A.
Aafram Y. Sellers ('01) is an associate with Currie Johnson Griffin Gaines & Myers, P.A., in Jackson.
Myles E. Sharp ('02) is associated with Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, P.A., in the firm's Gulfport office.
Timothy B. Tucker ('01) has opened his own practice in Ecru.
David Whitmire Waide Jr. ('01) is an associate with Latham and Burwell in Ridgeland. He formerly clerked with Supreme Court Justice George Carlson.
Robert F. Walker ('02) has joined Baker, Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell, P.C., in the firm's Jackson office.
Walter James White ('00) is an associate with Allen, Vaughn, Cobb & Hood, P.A., in Gulfport.
James Richard Young III ('00) is an associate with Shepard, Filburn & Goodblatt, P.A., in Orlando, Fla.

Marriages
Mary Anne Earl ('00) to John Pickett, Oct. 26, 2002. She practices with Myers Graves & Associates, PLLC, in Hernando.
Margaret Blake Easterling to Phillip Perkins Embry ('01), Nov. 16, 2002, at Marks Presbyterian Church. He is with Markow, Walker and Reeves, P.A., in Jackson.
Patricia J. Fleming ('01) to Greg Kennedy, Oct. 12, 2002, at Chapel of the Cross in Madison.
Stephanie Anne Graves ('99) to Maj. Perry Prine Beissel, Dec. 14, 2002, in Natchez.
Leesa Crim to Silas Wood McCharen ('85), Oct. 4, 2002. He is a partner with Daniel, Coker, Horton & Bell in Jackson.
Amy Ethridge Poth to Michael Allan Skrien ('92), May 24, 2003, in Oxford. Both serve as public defenders for the state of Missouri.
Melissa C. Walker ('01) to Patrick Bolton, Dec. 29, 2001. She practices with Myers Graves & Associates, PLLC, in Hernando.
Elizabeth Olivia Mavar to Arthur D. Spratlin Jr. ('91), May 3, 2003, at Nativity Cathedral in Biloxi. He is a partner with Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens and Cannada, PLLC, in Jackson.
Sandra J. Jones to Thomas J. Suszek ('82), Sept. 26, 2002.
Kendra Denise Craft to William Matthew Vines ('94), Sept. 28, 2002, at First Baptist Church in Jackson.
Holly Marie Dunn to Lawrence Douglas Wade Jr. ('00) at Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis. He is an attorney with Campbell, DeLong, Hagwood & Wade in Greenville.

Births
Joseph Davidson Bailey, son of Rachel Lavigne Bailey ('98) and Anthony Bailey of Flowood, April 3, 2003.
John Aziz Baladi, son of Alicia Clifton Baladi ('94) and Joe Baladi of Jackson, July 11, 2002.
Marissa Louise Maatallah, daughter of Neely Carlton ('94) and her husband Dave Maatallah, Jan. 30, 2003. Neely Carlton, state senator from Cleveland, made Mississippi legislative history becoming the first senator to give birth while in office.
Joseph Andrew Davis Jr., son of Stacy Lynn Jackson Davis and Joseph Andrew "Andy" Davis ('95), Dec. 8, 2002.
Anna Linnae Sullivan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sean Sullivan ('97) of Franklin, Tenn., Nov. 8, 2002.
Gordon Hall Whitwell, son of Ginger Gordon Whitwell and Robert Quentin Whitwell Jr. ('98) of Jackson, Dec. 27, 2002.
Mollie Mitchell Warrington, daughter of Dana Mitchell Warrington and Robert N. Warrington Jr. ('88), Jan. 4, 2003.

Deaths
Sincerest condolences are extended to the families and friends of alumni who are no longer with us.
William J. Cole III ('74) of Jackson, April 11, 2003.
Anthony Thomas Farese ('56) of Ashland, Nov. 12, 2002.
Charles Clifton Hairston Jr. ('42) of Jackson, Dec. 18, 2002.
Joe Jack Hurst ('50) of Jackson, Oct. 30, 2002.
Philip B. Purifoy ('64) of Texarkana, Ark., May 7, 2003.
J. Hal Ross ('72) of Brandon, Feb. 3, 2003.
John Wallace Whitten Jr. ('40) of Sumner, Feb. 18, 2003.
George Franklin Woodliff ('38) of Jackson, March 20, 2003.
Stanford Young ('50) of Waynesboro, Dec. 26, 2002.

 

 


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