We gather today, not for the purpose of grieving, but rather to celebrate the careers of, and to honor, applaud, and express our gratitude to, those members of the Knoxville bar who passed away in the last year.
Friday, the 17th of November 2023 | 3:00 PM | Supreme Court Courtroom
I N T R O D U C T I O N
Loretta G Cravens, KBA President
W E L C O M E
Hon. D. Kelly Thomas, Jr., Senior Judge, Court of Appeals
R E M E M B R A N C E S
R E F L E C T I O N S O N G R I E F A N D G R I E V I N G
B E N E D I C T I O N
Rev Charles W B Fels
R E A D I N G O F T H E N A M E S T O L L I N G O F T H E B E L L
B E R N A R D E . B E R N S T E I N
Remarks by L. Caesar Stair III
D A V I D L Y N N F L I T C R O F T
Remarks by James T Normand
J O H N M A R C U M F O L E Y
Remarks by Robert W. Godwin
J . T E R R Y H O L L A N D
Remarks by Shannon M Holland
W I L L I A M K E I T H M C C O R D
Remarks by Chancellor John F. Weaver J A M E S S . T I P T O N J R . Remarks by Hon. E. Jerome Melson F R A N K I E E L L I S W A D E
Remarks by Hon Gary R Wade S T E V E N L E E W I L L I A M S
Remarks by Dennis R. McClane
H A R O L D C . W I M B E R L Y
Remarks by H Douglas Nichol
B E R N A R D E . B E R N S T E I N
Bernard E Bernstein, 92, passed away on May 19, 2023 Bernie graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and attended New York University School of Law After he married Knoxville native, Barbara Winick, he attended and graduated from the UT College of Law in 1958 He founded the firm now known as Bernstein, Stair & McAdams His 54-year career covered a vast array of legal disciplines In the early years, he was involved in the pursuit of civil rights, voting rights and First Amendment issues Bernie later became skilled in the practice of business and commercial law, which assisted in the development of Knoxville by his representation of, among many, West Town Mall, Clayton Homes and Whittle Communications His work with Proffitt’s Stores led to his service on the board of directors of Saks Fifth Avenue His career also included a significant domestic relations practice, aided by his evenkeeled disposition
As an adjunct to his legal work, he served on the board of directors of the University of Tennessee Medical Center, including twelve years as its Chair Bernie was elected president of the Knoxville Bar Association in 1968 and received the KBA Governors’ Award in 1992 He was selected as a Fellow of the Tennessee and American Bar Foundations and the American College of Trial Lawyers He was the first inductee into Legal Aid of East Tennessee’s Donald F Paine Memorial Pro Bono Hall of Fame Bernie was devoted to his Knoxville community, his Jewish community, his legal community and his family He is survived by his wife Barbara, daughter Barri of Nashville, son and daughter-inlaw, Mark and Tanya, of San Francisco and three grandchildren
D A V I
David L Flitcroft, age 74, was born in Grants Pass, Oregon, on August 4, 1948, and he died on July 25, 2023 David served in the U S Navy from 1970 until 1974 David attended Southern Oregon College and The University of Oregon for his undergraduate studies, and he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Tennessee College of Law and was admitted to the Tennessee Bar Association in 1978 David was a longtime member of both the Anderson County Bar Association (President, 1992-1993) and the Tennessee Bar Association.
Upon admission to the Bar, David joined the Law Firm of Joyce, Meredith, Flitcroft & Normand, PLLC, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where he became a partner and continued to practice until retiring in 2019 David’s law practice areas focused primarily on Real Estate Law, Banking Law, Foreclosures, Estate Planning and Estate Administration David enjoyed hiking, gardening, writing, brewing craft beers, playing ping pong, and shooting pool David is survived by his wife Karen, his daughters Myra Flitcroft and Anna Peters, step-son, Josh Holly, step-daughters, Denise Harrison, Candace Shore (Daniel), Leslie Wiens (Mark), and Meredith A’Hern (Jay), his three grandchildren Felix, Ariel and Sierra, and his step-grandchildren Sarah Kate and Davis Shore (Mary Katheryn), Katrina and Kirsten Wiens, Harper and Corry A’Hern
J O H N M A R C U M F O L E Y
John Marcum Foley was born November 19, 1932, and passed away on September 22, 2022 He was a resident of the Williams-Henson Lutheran Home for Boys during his formative years and was Confirmed as a Child of God at St. John Lutheran Church in Knoxville John also served his nation in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War An alumnus of historic Young High School, he also graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with his juris doctor degree He began his career in law with noted Knoxville attorney Francis W Headman John then started his own law firm, Foley, Bowers and Bell in 1973
John was a lifelong athlete and especially enjoyed tennis and golf, which he played well into his senior years He loved traveling, music and playing the piano John is survived by his children; Patricia (Tom) Bradshaw, Thomas (Lisa) Foley, Paul A Foley and Gabrielle Foley Goddard His beloved grandchildren; Michael (Cara) Bradshaw, Amy (Stephen) Cox, Stephen (Meghan) Bradshaw, Missy Bradshaw and her fiancé Alex DePue, Haley Foley, Krista Miller, Sage Goddard and Jade Goddard Great-grandchildren; Ava Bradshaw, Benjamin Bradshaw, Ella Bradshaw, Anne Bradshaw, Lillian Cox, and close friend and former wife Beverly Foley.
J. Terry Holland, a Knoxville trial attorney for 47 years, and a beloved husband, son, father, brother, and uncle, went to be with the Lord on March 13, 2023 Terry was 73 The son of David Shields Holland and Anna Margaret Ivens Holland, Terry was a proud lifelong Knoxvillian, graduating from East High School in 1967, earning his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in 1971, and his law degree from the UT College of Law in 1974 Terry was truly a Vol for Life, holding season tickets at Neyland Stadium for many years A born litigator, Terry was professionally creative, prepared, and tenacious
A family man at heart, Terry embodied the American Dream and lived it with relish: he worked his way through school, married his high school sweetheart, Linda Murray, and together they raised Linda Ann, David, Carolyn, and Pamala, bought their own home, enjoyed beach vacations, volunteered, worshipped the Lord, and kept Sam & Andy’s in business Having had the good fortune to learn at the desks of Knoxville legal legends Leon Steinberg and then Francis Headman, in 1980 Terry and his brother Robert struck out on their own and built a successful trial practice in west Knoxville, where Terry’s clients included the Disney Corporation Terry’s service in the Baptist church, to multiple service organizations, as a college educator, and as a Captain in the U S Army added to the fabric of Knoxville his entire life, as did his exceptional skills as a litigator for all those who needed his particular brand of magic
William Keith McCord, husband, father, lawyer, farmer, and political consultant passed away peacefully on December 21, 2022, at the age of 89 Keith was born on January 29, 1933, in Alamo, Tennessee Keith graduated from Alamo High School He then served in the United States Marine Corp, graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (where he lettered in baseball), graduated from Duke Divinity School, and graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law After finishing his undergraduate degree, Keith married his beloved wife, Peggy Lambert McCord, in 1955. Keith was licensed in 1960 and practiced law in East Tennessee for fifty years.
In connection with his law practice and for pleasure, Keith flew himself and Peggy all over the United States and to their favorite destination, Treasure Cay, Abaco Bahamas. Keith also served on the Tennessee Board of Regents and on the Board of Lincoln Memorial University Keith was a farmer and outdoorsman until the day he died Keith is preceded in death by his father and mother, Ladd and Allie Mae McCord and brother, Gerald McCord Keith is survived by his cherished wife of 67 years, Peggy Lambert McCord; sons, William Keith McCord Jr (Amy), David Lambert McCord (Iris), John Ladd McCord (Kenda), and Joseph Allen McCord (Jules); eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren
James S Tipton Jr , age 74, passed away on March 20, 2023 Jim was a native of Knoxville and a 1969 graduate of the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa He graduated from the Duke University College of Law in 1972 and was a member of the Order of the Coif, a legal scholastic honor society After 7 years at the Kramer Rayson firm, Jim joined Mack Gentry, with whom Jim practiced for almost 44 years Mack says befriending Jim while they both practiced at Kramer Rayson led to one of the best friendships in his life Jim handled primarily business and commercial matters, estate planning, real estate and litigation A formidable and thoroughly prepared courtroom opponent, Jim was admitted to practice law in all Tennessee courts, the U S District Courts for the Eastern District of Tennessee and the Eastern District of Kentucky, the U S Claims Court, the U S Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the U S Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U S Supreme Court
Jim was a member of the Knoxville, Tennessee and American Bar Associations. Active in the community, Jim served for years as director and/or attorney for various non-profit charitable organizations, including Oak Home (assisted living civic-community pilot project), YOKE, YMCA of Metropolitan Knoxville, Ethel Brickey Hicks Charitable Corporation (for medical students serving rural Arkansas), Bleak House Historical Library, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, and various local churches He coached Little League and other youth baseball, softball and basketball teams He also coached and played shortstop for The Boys of Summer men’s softball team, whose members were 60 years of age or older Jim was a devoted, generous brother, uncle and great-uncle who dearly loved and is greatly missed by his family
Frankie Ellis Wade died peacefully on September 7, 2023 at the age of 80 in Memphis, TN Born in Munford, TN, Frankie followed in her mother's footsteps and attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where she met and married Dwight Wade, II and raised their two children, Rob and Holly She graduated from the University of TN School of Law in 1978 and began practicing family law at Ambrose, Wilson, and Grimm. Her independent spirit led her to establish her own practice in Knoxville where she continued her career in family law Frankie was an active member of the KBA, TBA, and served on the TN Board of Professional Responsibility
After her retirement she returned to Memphis to live closer to her family but continued to have a residence in Knoxville for many years A loyal Lady Vols and UT Football fan, Frankie traveled the state and the country for many years to attend UT sporting events and only gave up her seats in her 79th year She established a scholarship in her name to benefit a former Lady Vol Athlete attending UT Law School Frankie was predeceased by her parents, Udolphus Cato Ellis, Sr , Sue Bibb Ellis, and sister Jo Billings and her husband Harold She is survived by her children, Dwight Wade, III, and Holly Wade (husband Greg Everett), grandchildren, Bill and Kat Kelly, and Brother U Cato Ellis, Jr and his wife Anna Her generous spirit was evident in her mentorship of young lawyers, her contributions to the community and her willingness to stand up for those she was privileged to represent
Steven Lee Williams of Knoxville died on October 14, 2022, at age 71 He was born on August 28, 1952, to Drew and Alyce Williams, and lived in Knoxville most of his life He attended West Haven Elementary School, West High School and the University of Tennessee Steve was born in Knoxville but was proud to say that his family was originally from the Vardy Community in Hancock County Steve came from a family of educators His father was an elementary school principal, and his mother and several siblings were teachers Steve followed in their footsteps for a time and taught high school and coached football
Steve went back to school at the law schools at Memphis State and The University of Tennessee, graduating in 1986. He worked first in Chattanooga, and then at several firms in Knoxville, including Finkelstein, Kern & Cunningham, Baker Worthington and Bunstine & Watson, before going into solo practice first in West Knoxville, and then Maryville He practiced primarily family law, criminal and juvenile law He is survived by his wife Jennifer Dodge Williams, daughter Stephanie Kaitlyn Williams, son-in-law Aaron Stechalin-Havens, the apple of his eye granddaughter Harper Grace Williams, and siblings Dan Williams, Margaret W Nevels, and Druanna W Overbay
Harold Christopher "Chris" Wimberly, Age 47 passed away on June 11, 2023 He was born in Knoxville and graduated from Bearden High School where he was Valedictorian of his class He attended the University of Tennessee majoring in the Classics and graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law with honors He spoke many languages fluently and enjoyed traveling abroad He was an ardent U T fan and a huge fan of the New Orleans Saints holding season tickets to their games
He began practicing law with Gillenwater, Nichol & Associates and worked for Nichol & Associates for over 20 years During his practice he developed many faithful and loving friends
Chris is survived by his mother, Sarah Wimberly, who he cherished, his two cats, Butters and Precious, and many loving friends He is predeceased by his father, Judge Harold Wimberly, and his grandparents, Harold and Nettie Wimberly and Rhett Theodore and Hazel Smith Johnson H A R O