James Beatty
James Guy Beatty, Jr. died on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013 at Memorial Hospital after a long illness.
He was a highly respected and successful business lawyer and a partner with Miller & Martin PLLC for over 50 years. James M. Haley,Chairman of Miller & Martin, described him as a “key transformative leader” in the growth and success of the firm.
Mr. Beatty was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1931. He was a graduate of the Sewanee Military Academy, the University of Florida and the law school of Emory University.
He was corporate secretary of the Navarre Corporation,Chattanooga Times Printing Company, Olan Mills, Inc. and Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., and a director of the Krystal Company, Brock Candy Company, the Volunteer State Life Insurance Company, The Chubb Life Insurance Company, the Chattanooga ChooChoo Company and numerous other corporations.
Mr. Beatty was also counsel to several major Coca-Cola bottling companies including The Johnston Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Miami, Coca-Cola Bottling Company (Thomas) Inc., and Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., as well as many other businesses.
He was active in several civic and charitable organizations. He was general counsel and secretary of the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, of which he was also a director, and served as president in 1992-1994.
He was a member of the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners of which he was president and of the Board of Directors of the National Conference of Bar Examiners, of which he served asChairman of the Board. He was a member of the American,Tennessee and Georgia Bar Associations and of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel. He was a member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association for several years.
In 1999, Mr. Beatty was chosen as a Distinguished Alumnus of the Law School of Emory University, which he served as a founding and later Emeritus member of the law school Council.
Mr. Beatty is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Patricia Peter Beatty, and two children, a son, Yarnell Beatty of Brentwood, Tn., and his wife, Liz, and a daughter, Elizabeth B. Pearce of Richmond, Virginia, and her husband, Paul, and by five grandchildren, Gaines, Anne and Catherine Pearce, and Alex and Matthias Beatty.
Mr. Beatty was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain.
A memorial service will be held at the church on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 11 a.m. Members of the family will receive friends at the Church’s Talbird Hall prior to the service at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd, The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga or favorite charities.
Share your memories at wannfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home & Cremation Center, at the foot of Historic Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo, 821-7551.