Mt. Juliet attorney Bethel Dean Robinson died Feb. 12 at age 84. He graduated from Belmont University with a degree in history and spent several years teaching there and at Panola Junior College (now Panola College) in Carthage, Texas. Robinson earned his law degree from Memphis State University College of Law (now University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law) in 1974. He began his practice as a general attorney, eventually focusing on property law. A highlight of his legal career was winning a federal civil rights suit for his client, who claimed she was wrongfully discharged in 1975 based on sex discrimination. Plans for a celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

The Memphis Bar Association (MBA) will host its annual memorial service on April 24, beginning at noon CDT, for members who have died over the past year. The in-person event will take place at Calvary Episcopal Church, 102 N. Second St., Memphis 38103. Learn more and see the list of attorneys being honored.

Knoxville attorney J. Lewis Kinnard has died at age 92. Kinnard earned his law degree at the University of Tennessee College of Law after serving two years of active duty at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After graduation, he practiced law in Sweetwater, where he also served as Monroe County judge and Sweetwater municipal attorney. Kinnard later practiced law in Madisonville for 62 years and served as board chair for Wood Home in Sweetwater and as a board member for the Tellico Reservoir Development Agency. Visitation will be held April 6 at Resurrection Presbyterian Church, 6900 Nubbin Ridge Dr., Knoxville from 3 to 4:30 p.m. EDT. A funeral service will follow at 4:30 p.m. EDT. A second service will be held April 7 at the Monroe County Courthouse in Madisonville from 3 to 6 p.m. EDT. Donations may be made to Sweetwater Boy Scout Troop 98, P.O. Box 450, Sweetwater, TN 37384; Monroe County Courthouse, 105 College St. S., Madisonville, TN 37354; or Resurrection Presbyterian Church at the above address.

Knoxville attorney Edward Bruce Foster Jr. died March 7 at age 88. Foster earned his undergraduate degree in business from the University of Tennessee (UT) and his law degree from the UT College of Law. Following law school, Foster received a commission as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, serving on active duty in France from 1959-1963. In 1991, he joined Bass, Berry and Sims, opening its first Knoxville office. Foster served as president of the Knoxville Bar Association, was a member of the Tennessee State Constitutional Convention of 1977, and served as a special justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court during Gov. Lamar Alexander’s administration. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. EDT on April 12 at Second Presbyterian Church, 2829 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37919, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Second Presbyterian Church, the E. Bruce and Mary Evelyn Foster Scholarship at UT Law, Knoxville Knox County-CAC Mobile Meals, or do what Foster did best — do something kind for someone else.

Marie Ferran, a legal professional and advocate in Cookeville, died Feb. 19 at the age of 67. After earning her law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Ferran combined her intellect and compassion to build a career focused on service and advocacy. As the executive director of the Area Agency on Aging, Ferran worked to protect and support the elderly. She was an advocate for domestic violence survivors, at-risk youth and healthcare equality, often donating her legal expertise beyond her official roles. Her dedication extended to serving on boards for organizations that supported women’s health and vulnerable populations. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on March 8 with a visitation at 11 a.m. and a service at noon CST at Cookeville First United Methodist Church, 165 East Broad St., Cookeville 38501. There will be a reception following the service in Jeff Wall Hall.

William Russell "Bill" Rice died recently at age 86. After graduating from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Rice began working at the University of Tennessee (UT) Hospital in Knoxville as a billing agent. He later attended UT College of Law, continuing to work full time at the hospital. Rice earned his law degree in 1976. He joked that his record as a trial lawyer was one and zero, after successfully representing one client in one courtroom trial. Throughout his career, Rice served in a number of leadership roles, including as CEO of the UT Hospital, where he oversaw the development of new medical facilities. He later became chancellor of the UT Health Science Center in Memphis before retiring.

Judge Robert Ernest Cupp Jr. died Feb. 4 at age 86. Cupp earned his law degree from the Tennessee College of Law in 1971. He worked in private practice, served as assistant district attorney general, director of Legal Services of Upper East Tennessee and assistant district attorney general in the First Judicial District. In 1998, he was elected criminal court judge for the district, a position he held for 16 years. Memorial gifts may be made to Grace Fellowship Church, 2314 S. Greenwood Dr., Johnson City, TN 37604; Shriners Hospital, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607; or a charity of the donor's choice. Memories and condolences may be shared at Tetrick Funeral Services.

Linda Ruth Sloan Fizer died Feb. 7 after a brief illness. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Austin Peay State University and her law degree from Nashville School of Law. In 1980, Fizer opened her own law practice and became the first woman to open a private practice law firm in Cheatham County. In 1998, she moved her law office from Ashland City to Springfield. She initiated and served on the first governing board of Leadership Cheatham County and initiated and served on the first board of the Cheatham County Education Foundation. A visitation with the family was held Feb. 12. Memorial contributions may be sent to either Hospice Promise Foundation or Walden’s Puddle. Donations also may be sent in care of the Robertson County Funeral Home, 2201 Memorial Blvd., Springfield, TN 37172 for distribution.

Springfield attorney Larry Wayne Simmons died Friday following a 46-year legal career. Simmons served as a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps before earning his law degree at the Nashville School of Law. He began his career as an attorney in 1970 and later served as the Adams city attorney and as a city judge in Springfield. Funeral services will be held on Feb. 18. Visitation will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST in the chapel of Austin & Bell Funeral Home, 509 N. Walnut St., Springfield, TN 37172. The service will take place at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery, 3141 US-31W., White House, TN 37188. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort, P.O. Box 111180, Nashville, TN 37222-1180.

Knoxville lawyer Herbert S. Sanger Jr. died Feb. 9 at the age of 88. A graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law, Sanger spent the bulk of his career working for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), where he started as a staff attorney and rose through the ranks to become deputy general counsel, associate general counsel and finally general counsel in 1975. He served as board chair of the TVA Retirement System from 1975 to 1986. In 1986, Sanger transitioned to private practice, joining the law firm of Wagner, Myers & Sanger. He also served as an assistant professor of administrative law at the University of Tennessee College of Law. Sanger retired after 57 years of practicing law. Services were held today in Fountain City. Memorial donations may be made to the Beckly Area Foundation’s Oak Hill High School Alumni Association under the Shelton and Rita Sanger Fund, 1210 S Kanawha St., Beckley, WV 25801.