Leroy Phillips Jr.
Leroy Phillips Jr., 76, retired criminal defense attorney and author, died peacefully surrounded by his family on May 19, 2011.
He was born in Chattanooga, on Feb. 20, 1935 the oldest of seven children of the late Leroy Phillips Sr. and Ruby Humphreys Phillips.
Predeceasing him were his sister, Thedna Ann Crisp; and grandparents, Leroy Phillips Sr. and Ida Harris Phillips, and Thomas Humphreys and Hester Cash Humphreys.
After listening with his father to a speech by Harry Truman on the radio, he decided at the age of 12 to become a lawyer. After graduating from The University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville in December, 1960, Leroy began the practice of law in Chattanooga with the late Crawford Bean.
He practiced law for 44 years, and retired in December, 2005. He was admitted to the practice of law in the State Courts of Tennessee, the United States Federal Courts including the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
Leroy and the late Ramon Solomon were instrumental in establishing the first Unitarian Church in Chattanooga.
Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Nancy; his sons, Tom (Debra) Phillips and John Phillips; his daughters, Lisa (Jim) Garner and Michelle Farner; his grandchildren, Lorie Taylor, Matthew, Jenny and Joe Garner, Elizabeth and William Farner. He is also survived by brothers, Jack (Alice) Phillips and Billy Joe Phillips; and sisters, Alice (Johnny) Stinnett, Shirley Harmon and Dianne (Dale) Shelton; as well as two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
In 1999, Leroy co-authored "Contempt of Court" with Mark Curriden, a book about a 1906 lynching on the Walnut Street Bridge and a series of events that established the U.S. Supreme Courts precedent to intervene in state criminal cases. "Contempt of Court" won the American Bar Association's Silver Gavel Award in 2000 for excellence in media and the arts and for fostering the American public's understanding if law and the legal system.
Leroy loved the practice of law. His family, children and grandchildren brought him great joy. He was well-respected in the legal community and will be dearly missed by his friends and family.
The family would like to thank caregivers Lisa Boyd and Pam White along with the wonderful, caring and loving staff at Life Care Centers of Red Bank. We would also like to thank Hospice of Chattanooga for their loving care and support.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, and 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, at the North Chapel of the Chattanooga Funeral Home on Highway 153 in Hixson.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, with Rev. and Honorable Samuel H. Payne officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Chattanooga Community Kitchen.
Please share your thoughts and memories online at www.ChattanoogaNorthChapel.com.
Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home, North Chapel, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.