Memorial Service Program Spring 2025

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, these cherished members of the Knoxville Bar we now remember with fondness.

Friday, the 2nd of May 2025

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3:00 PM

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Supreme Court Courtroom

CELEBRATING LIVES WELL LIVED

CELEBRATING LIVES WELL LIVED

Memorial Service

Memorial Service INTRODUCTION Jonathan D. Cooper, KBA President

WELCOME Justice Dwight E. Tarwater, Tennessee Supreme Court

INDIVIDUAL REMEMBRANCES REFLECTIONS ON GRIEF AND GRIEVING BENEDICTION Rev. Charles W.B. Fels

READING OF THE NAMES TOLLING OF THE BELL HON. SHARON J. BELL

Remarks by Hon. Michael W. Moyers

JUDY ANN PINKSTON MCCARTHY

Remarks by Lawrence M. Silverstein

ROBERT “BOB” ROE CAMPBELL Remarks by J. William Coley

CAROL ANNE MUTTER

Remarks by Patricia Best Vital

HON. JOE D. DUNCAN Remarks by Congressman John J. “Jimmy” Duncan

Remarks by Hon. E. Shayne Sexton

JAMES EDWARD FOGLESONG

GAIL FRANKLIN WORTLEY

Remarks by David H. Dunaway

DENNIS BRUCE FRANCIS

Remarks by H. Stephen Gillman

HON. O. DUANE SLONE

Remarks by Robert A. Cole

HON. JAMES CURWOOD WITT, JR.

Remarks by Hon. D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.

KENNETH MAXEY GRESHAM, JR.

Remarks by Stanley F. Roden

PATTI JANE LAY

Remarks by Hon. Christopher D. Heagerty

NICHOLAS “JAY” YEAGER Remarks by Sarah M. Booher

HON. SHARON J. BELL Hon. Sharon J. Bell, 80, died on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Born in Birmingham, Alabama on June 30, 1944, Sharon Bell grew up the youngest of three siblings. She attended Auburn University, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in speech. A scholarship from the University of Tennessee College of Law brought her to Knoxville in 1966, where she became one of two women in her graduating class. Post graduation she was an attorney with the UT Legal Clinic until she went into private practice, where she eventually invited former Attorney General Ed Dossett and Norman Jackson to join her as law partners.

From 1978-1982, she was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing the 15th District. In 1982, she was elected judge of the Knox County General Sessions Court. She made history in 1986 by being elected the first female chancellor in the state of Tennessee. She served on the bench of Knox County Chancery Court Division III for the next 20 years, retiring in 2006. Chancellor Bell was exceptional in her dedication to the law and to public service. During her career, she served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations and received many awards and accolades in her judicial capacity.

She was most honored to receive the YWCA Tribute to Women Award and the Annie Selwyn Award.

Her public service did not end with her retirement from the bench. Chancellor Bell continued her service to the community as an advocate for animal rescue. She volunteered delivering food with Grandparents Meals Connect and she provided transportation to those in need with the CAC and Senior Smiles. She also learned to play golf, studied Spanish, and spent countless hours gardening.

Chancellor Bell is survived by her sister Cheryl Bell Thompson; nephews Clay Thompson, Jason Thompson, Major Michael Bell, and James Daniel Bell; niece Laura Bell Bishop; great nephews Andrew Thompson, Jason W. Thompson, Quinn Thompson, Carson Bishop, Davis Bishop, and Luke Bell; great nieces Nicole Thompson Kissel, Kinzie Bishop Comer, and Kathrine Dryer Bell; and great-great nieces Poppy Ann and Violet Kim Kissel.

ROBERT “BOB” ROE CAMPBELL Robert ("Bob") Campbell died on December 6, 2024, at the age of 94. He was born November 7, 1930, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Lacy Roe and Anita Campbell. Bob was a lifelong Knoxville resident as well as a lifelong active member of Second Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder and as a devoted volunteer on numerous committees throughout the years. Bob became an Eagle Scout, was a graduate of Knoxville High School, and he earned both his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Tennessee. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity where he developed deep and abiding friendships that continued until his death.

Bob began his law practice in 1956 and practiced with the firm of Hodges, Doughty & Carson for over 60 years. During his professional career, he served as president of the Knoxville Bar Association, chair of the Tennessee Appellate Court Nominating Commission, chair of the Tennessee Bar Foundation, and was a life member of the 6th Circuit Judicial Conference. In 1989, he was honored as the first recipient of the Knoxville Bar Association’s Governor’s Award for distinguished service to the profession and to the community. He was an emeritus fellow of The American College of Trial Lawyers and served as a member of the Board of Regents of the College (1993-1997). He was a life fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Tennessee Bar Foundation. He was an emeritus advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates and an emeritus member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, the American Inns of Court, the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association and the Defense Research Institute, and was listed in The Best Lawyers in America. He was a member of the Tennessee Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission from 1997 to 2002. He was active in state politics, including serving as Senator Howard Baker’s statewide campaign chair.

Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ruth V. Campbell, to whom he was utterly devoted. He is survived by his children Robert Roe Campbell, Jr. (Susan) of Nashville, Cady Campbell Wilson (Mike) of Franklin, and Willard Brandt Campbell of Knoxville, along with nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren, all of whom he loved and adored. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and friends.

HON. JOE D. DUNCAN Hon. Joe D. Duncan, retired Presiding Judge of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, died August 20, 2024, in Knoxville. He was 100 years and 6 months old.

Judge Joe Duncan was born on February 11, 1924, in Scott County, TN, in the town of Huntsville. Born to F. B. and Cassie Duncan, he was the 8th of their 10 children who lived to adulthood. Joe was the first (and so far, only) in the Scott County clan of Duncans to reach the century milestone.

Joe’s life was one of extraordinary achievement and devotion to family togetherness and public service.

During the course of his life, among other things, he was: a hard-working farm boy, the leading scorer on his Huntsville High School basketball team, a Lieutenant and navigator in the Army Air Corps during WWII, and an FBI Special Agent. A graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Joe had a successful private practice of civil and criminal law before he became a judge. He served as a mentor to many members of the Knoxville bench and bar. In his lengthy service on the bench, he was twice elected judge of the Knox County Criminal Court. He was then appointed by Gov. Winfield Dunn to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, where he served 15 years and was chosen by his peers to be Presiding Judge. He was a renowned storyteller and master gardener whose home-grown tomatoes were coveted by the courthouse staff.

Joe was married for almost 71 years to Lou Etta Phillips Duncan. She died in 2017, at the age of 92. He is survived by their son Philip David Duncan and daughter-in-law Leslie Ann Duncan of Falls Church, Va; two grandchildren, Meredyth Phillips Duncan of Gloucester Point, VA. and Tyler Witte Duncan of Arlington, VA; special grandnephew Jason Mitchell Phillips of Knoxville; and multiple generations of other nieces and nephews, some of whom are young enough to carry their fond memories of “Uncle Joe” into the next century.

JAMES EDWARD FOGLESONG James Edward Foglesong, 93, of Knoxville, TN, passed away on July 21, 2024. Born on January 13, 1931, his warmth and humor will be gravely missed. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Emanuel Foglesong and Margaret Wheeler Foglesong, and his sister, Margaret Lorena Foglesong Brosseau. He is survived by his loving wife Sally Smith Foglesong, daughters Kimbrely Ellen Foglesong Weir and Tina Maria Foglesong Robinson, and grandchildren James Mahlon Weir and Sally Mackenzi Robinson. He also leaves behind nieces and a nephew in North Carolina and cherished relationships with his wife’s siblings.

Jim served honorably in the U.S. Army Reserve for 11 years, including two years of active duty in Korea. He returned to Knoxville and embarked on a legal career, first as counsel for Southern Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, then as a civil trial lawyer. He later founded several law firms, serving his clients for over 65 years.

James was also committed to community service, being a member and past president of the Bearden Lions Club and a member of the Elks Club and the Exchange Club of Bearden. He was an active Boy Scout leader and a devout Christian, attending Sequoyah Presbyterian Church and later The Church at Bennington Place.

DENNIS BRUCE FRANCIS Dennis Bruce Francis died Tuesday, October 29 in his west Knox County home after a brief, fierce battle with cancer. His wife Theresa Habiger, daughter McKennah, and grandsons Bentley and Grayson were with him at his passing. Dennis was born on April 15, 1946, the youngest of six children born to Irene and Malcolm Francis of Buffalo, New York.

Dennis was a lifelong Catholic and a gifted trial lawyer who softened the edges of his razor wit with a touch of blarney and an abundance of Irish charm. He was a past chair of the Knox County Election Commission and a passionate defender of voting rights who also served on the state Democratic Executive Committee. He was a ride-or-die Buffalo Bills fan and a gregarious soul who celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by handing out green carnations to friends and strangers alike.

He came to Knoxville in 1970 after being accepted to attend the University of Tennessee College of Law. A graduate of Indiana State University, he claimed to have majored in Driver’s Education, which may or may not have been precisely accurate, but made for a heck of a story. He slept in his car until he made enough money tending bar on the Strip to rent a room in Ft. Sanders.

Later, he would supplement his income by buying and selling antique furniture and stained-glass windows.

He got his law degree in 1974, and accepted a job as general counsel at Eastern State Psychiatric Hospital (later Lakeshore Mental Health Institute), where he settled in and began to establish himself professionally.

He settled into Knoxville, too, and became a respected member of the local bar. He never met a stranger and had friends in places high and low.

KENNETH MAXEY GRESHAM, JR. Kenneth Maxey Gresham, Jr. passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at the age of 97. Kenneth was born on October 9, 1926, to Kenneth M. Gresham, Sr. and Margaret Holiday Gresham. Kenneth was a graduate of Central High School. He served as a Navy Air Crewman in WWII. After his service, he graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. Kenneth practiced law with his father in the firm of Gresham and Gresham Attorneys. In the mid-1950s he served as part-time Assistant Attorney General. He followed in practice in partnership with Howard G. Hogan until Howard became Clerk and Master of Chancery Court. Kenneth continued his law practice as "of counsel" in the firm of Testerman, Warren, and Roden.

He retired in 2007 after 57 years of practice. Kenneth was co-owner and president of Warranty Title Insurance Co. for 50 years. He was a member of the Knoxville Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association.

Kenneth was appointed by the federal court as chairman of the Federal Land Commission and heard and decided numerous federal condemnation actions. Kenneth was a long-time member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon and elder.

He was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth M. Gresham, Sr. and Margaret Holiday Gresham, his brother John Fuller Gresham, III, and his wife of 61 years, Mary Helen (Mel) Jones Gresham. Kenneth is survived by his daughters Rebecca Ann Sharpe McGaha (Greg) and Mary Lee Keeler (James); grandchildren David Keeler (Grace), Thomas Keeler (Caroline), and Ashlee Sharpe; six great-grandchildren; special friend Carolyn Ambrister and caregiver Patricia Gail Keller.

PATTI JANE LAY Patti Jane Lay, age 69, of Knoxville, TN, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2024, at her home. Patti Jane was born on March 1, 1955, in Knoxville to Frank Edwin Lay and Agnes Hufstedler Lay. She was raised in the Deane Hill neighborhood and graduated as salutatorian of the Webb High School Class of 1973. After high school, Patti Jane moved to Atlanta and graduated from Emory University with highest honors. During her time at Emory, she was very proud of her presidency and involvement with the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Delta Alpha chapter. Patti Jane moved back to Knoxville and graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1979. During law school, some of Patti Jane’s achievements included the Mock Trial team, Law Review, and Order of the Coif. Patti Jane later served on the Alumni Council and Dean’s Circle for the University of Tennessee College of Law. A long-time member of the Knoxville Bar Association, Patti Jane joined the law firm of Kennerly, Montgomery & Finley upon her bar admission. She became a shareholder with the firm and practiced in the areas of products liability and civil defense. In 1995, she established her own law firm, where she developed a family law, probate, and mediation practice.

Patti Jane was a Vol-For-Life and never missed a chance to cheer on the Volunteers. She was always involved in her children’s lives and became a second mom to many. She loved to travel, play tennis and pickleball, and spend time at her family’s mountain house in the Norton Creek community of Gatlinburg. She deeply cherished her community, friends, and family, but her greatest joy was recently becoming a grandmother to Ruthanne. Her acts of kindness, infectious smile, and Sunday family dinners will be greatly missed. Patti Jane was predeceased by her parents, Frank Edwin Lay and Agnes Lay, and nephew Robert Chandler Lay, all of Knoxville. She is survived by her husband John Thomas Baugh; her children John Edwin Baugh, Sarah Lauren Baugh Coughlin (Dennis), and Thomas Chandler Baugh; granddaughter Ruthanne Louise Coughlin; brother Frank Edwin Lay, Jr. and niece Martha Jane Lay, all of Knoxville. She is also survived by many more beloved cousins and friends, and her cherished red English Lab Dusti Rose Baugh.

JUDY ANN PINKSTON MCCARTHY Judy Ann Pinkston McCarthy died on June 8, 2024, at the age of 78. Judy earned her undergraduate degree in political science from Michigan State, a master’s in interior design, and a JD from the University of Tennessee. She had many careers—church organist, professional textile artist, arts administrator, and attorney.

Inspired by Atticus Finch, she went to law school, where she was a law review editor, excelled in moot court, represented a death row inmate through the legal clinic, and graduated in the top of her class.

Despite her impressive credentials, she was not immediately hired out of law school. She finally received an interview when she changed the name on her resume to “JP McCarthy.” When she showed up, the receptionist said, “But you’re a woman.” Once she got her foot in the door, she became a brilliant attorney. She practiced with big Knoxville firms, made partner, and then became a sole practitioner. She was a co-founder of the Women’s Bar Association in Knoxville.

She had a diverse practice representing large companies like Honda Motors, helping police officers through employment issues, and seeking justice for victims of discrimination. Most importantly, she delighted in practicing law with both her husband and son. She loved the intellectual challenge of solving legal problems and knowing at the end of the day that she had helped someone.

She leaves behind her husband Dennis, son Corin, daughter Kerry, daughters-in-law Amy Pressley McCarthy and Kate Mann, grandchildren Evan and Pressley McCarthy, and her many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Don and Lucille Ann Pinkston and her brother Bradley.

CAROL ANNE MUTTER Carol Anne Mutter, 78, died on November 3, 2024. Carol was many things to many people, but above all, she was a dedicated wife and mother, known for her fierce love for her family.

She is survived by her husband Dr. Mitchell L. Mutter, the love of her life, and her three sons, Matthew, Justin, and Andrew, the pride of her life. She also leaves behind her daughters-in-law Sarah, Kathryn, and Anna Lee, and her grandchildren Phoebe, Eliza Belle, Wisehart, Nora, John Mitchell, and June. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charlotte and Walter Lavender.

Born on October 22, 1946, in San Antonio, Texas, Carol spent most of her childhood in Tennessee's oldest town, Jonesborough. She attended Jonesborough High School, where she met Mitchell and began a courtship that would blossom into 55 years of marriage. From her mother she inherited intellectual curiosity and a passion for language and literature - a passion that she would in turn pass on to all of her sons. After beginning her PhD in Art History at Columbia University, she transitioned to Georgetown University Law Center, where she earned her JD. Part of a new generation of women going to law school, she faced familiar challenges and overcame them with characteristic tenacity and poise. As a law professor once said in recommending her for a coveted clerkship on the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, "Don't be fooled by the sweater set and southern drawl-she has a mind like a steel trap." She appreciated the steel trap part, never gave up the sweater sets (or the drawl), and got the clerkship.

Carol went on to have an exemplary and wide-ranging career in the law, ranging from private practice to an academic position as a professor at the University of Tennessee Law School, where for 30 years she was known for her expertise in civil procedure, torts, insurance, and health law. Later in life Carol was active in local government, and served as mayor of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee for six years.

HON. O. DUANE SLONE Hon. O Duane Slone died on August 25, 2024, in a tragic accident. Judge Slone, a native of Jefferson City, Tennessee, was a Circuit Court Judge in the Fourth Judicial District of Tennessee. He was a graduate of Jefferson County High School, Carson Newman University, and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphrey School of Law. Judge Slone was instrumental in establishing the Boys & Girls Club of Dumplin Valley in Jefferson City, White Pine, Strawberry Plains and Newport. In 2020, he was inducted into the Tennessee Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame. Over the past several years, Judge Slone established the Drug Recovery Court for his district. He presided over the Drug Recovery Court several times per month providing guidance for many individuals appearing in his district. Judge Slone served as chair of the Tennessee Judicial Opioid Initiative and the 8 State Appalachian/Midwest Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative. He was a member of the Substance Misuse and Addiction Resources for Tennessee Justice Network, the Tennessee Judicial Conference Problem Solving Court Committee, and numerous other local, state, and national organizations. In 2015, he was presented the Partners and Leadership Award, the only statewide award presented by the organization to someone outside the medical field. Judge Slone received additional honors including the Tennessee Public Health Association’s Visionary Award, the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and other Addiction Services Voice of Recovery Award, and Jefferson Countian of the Year.

In addition, Judge Slone was the recipient of the highest judicial award, the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence, presented by Chief Justice John Roberts of the United States Supreme Court.

Judge Slone was preceded in death by his father, Wesokie Slone. He is survived by wife Darrison “Dara” Palmer Slone; sons Oakland and Joseph and daughter Estella; mother Carolyn Slone; siblings Gary D. (Linda) Slone, Daryl R. Slone, and Lisa Cameron; niece Laura (Timothy) Mize; nephews Tyler (Ashley) Slone, Jordan (Kayla) Sykes, and Blake (Chelsea) Sykes; and several great nieces and nephews.

GAIL FRANKLIN WORTLEY Gail Franklin Wortley, age 77, of Knoxville, TN, passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2024. He was a dedicated and involved member of Trinity Community Church, a long-time member of the Knoxville Bar Association, and a practicing attorney in Knoxville for 51 years. He received his undergraduate degree from Tennessee Tech in 1969. He earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1972.

Gail was honorably discharged from the United States Army Reserve in 1980 at the rank of Captain. He was admitted to practice in all courts in the state of Tennessee, the Federal District Court, the United States Bankruptcy Court, and the United States Tax Court. He was well known in the local community for his work specifically in the areas of family law and bankruptcy, having participated in thousands of bankruptcy and divorce cases in his lengthy career.

When he was not practicing law, Gail loved spending time with his family, boating, enjoying baseball, and participating in the activities of his church.

He was preceded in death by his father Randall Wortley, his mother Joyce Wortley, his sister Joycelyn Wortley Heidel, his grandfather T. Weidemann, and his grandmother Jenny Weidemann. He is survived by his daughter, Melissa Lawing and husband Stephen, sons Ryan Wortley and Grant Wortley, and grandchildren Jackson Lawing, Jacob Lawing, Christian Lawing, Avary Wortley, Journee Wortley, and Mariah Hobby.

HON. JAMES CURWOOD WITT, JR. Hon. James Curwood Witt, Jr., age 75, long-time resident of Madisonville, Tennessee, more recently, Knoxville, passed away on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at UTMC in Knoxville surrounded by his wife and children.

Judge Witt, also known by “Curwood,” was born in Madisonville to parents Hon. James Curwood Witt, Sr. and Gloria Witt, on October 23, 1948. He attended Madisonville High School and graduated in 1966. He then went on to earn degrees with honors from Hiwassee College and Tennessee Wesleyan, before earning a degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Judge Witt practiced as an attorney in Madisonville before being appointed as a judge for the Monroe County Juvenile Court. During his practice he also served as counsel to the Monroe County Board of Education and was the president of the Monroe County Bar Association.

In 1997, he was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, where he served with distinction for 27 years, until his passing.

Judge Witt was a jack of all trades, and loved fishing, golfing, reading, woodworking, piano, and was an avid British sports car enthusiast. He was an adjunct law professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law and delighted in taking his beloved dog Otto for walks around the courthouse in downtown Knoxville. Judge Witt was a long-term member of FUMC in Madisonville and a faithful attendant of Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church in Knoxville.

Judge Witt is survived by his wife Carole Cavender Witt; daughter Mary Butler (Eric) of Knoxville; sons James Curwood Witt III and John Bascomb Witt, both of Knoxville; daughter Andria Parker (Brian) of Johns Creek, GA; siblings Kathy Hall of Madisonville and Cindy Wilhite of Knoxville; grandchildren Ansley Parker, Luke Parker, Landry Parker, and Valor Parker of Johns Creek, GA; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Hon. James Witt, Sr. and Gloria Witt.

NICHOLAS “JAY” YEAGER Nicholas “Jay” Yeager of Clinton, TN, age 65, died on July 26, 2024. He was the son of Donald Kent Yeager and the late Margaret Ann Linville Yeager.

Jay was a graduate of Cooper City High School in Cooper City, Florida. Following graduation, he attended East Tennessee State University and later received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from East Carolina University. Jay worked in law enforcement for many years as a police officer, sergeant, and member of the Gwinnett County Bomb Squad and SWAT teams in Georgia.

Jay later stepped away from front-line duty to pursue his dreams by attending the University of Georgia School of Law where he earned his law degree in 2001. He served as Assistant County Attorney of Anderson County from 2001 to 2006 and became Anderson County Law Director in 2006, a position he held until his death. Jay was also serving as an officer with the Tennessee County Attorney Association at the time of his death. Among his many honors, he was presented the Tennessee County Attorney of the Year Award in 2024.

Jay will be greatly missed by his family and many close friends. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Linda Marie Yeager, along with several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory and legacy, his father Donald Kent Yeager of Knoxville; children Maggie Yeager (Tommy Wood) of Huntsville, AL and D.J. Yeager (Julia Wiant) of Clinton; grandchildren Oliver Yeager, Levi, and Ruby Wood; sister Kelly Yeager Turner (Mark) of Knoxville; brother-in-law Dale Geisler (Patty) of Fort Lauderdale; niece Sasha Wright (Nick); nephew Shelby Geisler; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

FINAL BLESSINGS It is therefore fitting that today, as we mark the end of the career of our departed colleagues,

we

reflect

on

the

many

contributions made by them and rededicate ourselves to those ideals that impelled them to the noble profession of law in the first place. Let us leave here not with a sense of loss but with a sense of gratitude for the services to society which they rendered.