Where are They Now? Leigh Wilburn ’12: On a Good Path

Sharing a similar life experience with Annette Cherry ’22, NSL Alumna Leigh Wilburn ’12 is thankful to be where she is today – married, busy with work, and healthy.

Wilburn was also diagnosed with breast cancer, back in September 2011.

Even though it was 10 years ago, she clearly remembers the first visit with her medical team.

“I promptly explained to the doctors that I ‘didn’t have time for this right now.’” We were approaching final exams, and I was determined not to repeat my third year,” she said.

Part of the Henry Class, whose students attended NSL February through December, Wilburn was wrapping up her third year in law school.

“I scheduled my surgery, a bilateral mastectomy, for October and only missed two weeks of class. I came back after surgery for finals and scheduled chemo to occur during the winter break. I completed chemo and reconstruction surgery and was back in class on the first day of my fourth year,” Wilburn said.

“I will never forget that day. One of my professors called on me to brief the first case “because my hat was so distracting.” I was prepared for the case. I briefed it, and after class I explained to him why I was wearing a hat in his class. He was very apologetic. We laughed and had a great semester together.”

During her final year at NSL, Wilburn remained determined and finished school on time, graduating with her classmates.

“I was on a mission and nothing else mattered. Sometimes I wish I had slowed down more.

But I believe that having momentum at that time in my life kept me from falling into a depression,” she said.

Wilburn was declared cancer free after her last chemotherapy treatment in 2012. She was admitted to the bar on May 1, 2013.

Nowadays, she owns and operates two successful title company offices in Tennessee — Fayette County Title Company in West Tennessee and CBC Title & Escrow in Portland, Tennessee. She also teaches a variety of classes at the UT Martin campus in Somerville.

“I will say, looking back on it now, I am so thankful and so grateful to be alive and to have had the support and camaraderie of my classmates and the faculty at NSL. I take absolutely no credit for being a survivor. For some reason, God didn’t see fit to call me home at that time. I don’t know why. But I am thankful,” she said.

1970

Former Williamson County Juvenile Court Judge and Magistrate Jane C. Franks retired as Magistrate in 2022. She is now enjoying time with family, volunteering, and traveling.

1974

Alumni from the NSL Class of 1974 gathered for their annual reunion in October 2022. It was their 48th reunion.

1977

Stella Hargrove retired in August 2022. Judge Hargrove was the first female prose -