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IN MEMORIAM
B T. Hetrick
B T. Hetrick, 86, of Jackson, died March 25, 2018. A graduate of
Jackson School of Law, he was admitted to practice in 1960. He
was active in the Boys Scouts of America and earned his Eagle
Scout Award. He joined the Army in 1953 and served in Japan.
He went on to work as a real estate closing attorney, retiring in
2000. Hetrick began the first Religious Education Program at The
Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in 1972.
Mark S. Howard
Mark S. Howard, 64, of Pachuta, died April 9, 2018. A graduate
of MS College School of Law, he was admitted to practice in
1982.
Robert W. King
Robert W. King, 91, of Charleston, SC, died February 27, 2018. A
graduate of Cumberland School of Law, he was admitted to prac-
tice in 1950. He joined the Marines and fought in World War II in
the Pacific Theater as a member of the Greatest Generation. He
set up a law practice in Jackson, MS that endured 57 years until
he retired on his 81st birthday in 2007. He was a long-time board
member of the Baptist Children’s Village of Jackson. He was a
longtime member of Northminster Baptist Church in Jackson.
Donald G. Kruger
Donald G. Kruger, 86, of Flowood, died March 23, 2018. A
graduate of the University of Mississippi, he was admitted to
practice in 1959. After college, he served the United States Army
for three years in Germany. He achieved the rank of Brigadier
General (Ret.), was the first Judge Advocate for the State of
Mississippi and was the Chief Judge of the Court of Military
Appeals. He also served as assistant chaplain. He practiced law
for 48 years. During that time, he was a charter member of the
Mississippi Bar Foundation and a Mississippi Bar Commissioner.
He served as the attorney for the Jefferson Davis County Board
of Supervisors for 25 years, and as the Municipal Judge for the
Town of Prentiss for 15 years. He also served as the Chairman of
the Mississippi State Oil and Gas Board. Kruger was involved in
the formation of Jefferson Davis County Dixie Youth Baseball, as
well as the Prentiss Country Club and Prentiss Christian School,
where he served on both boards. He was a past president of the
Prentiss Lions Club.
Thomas E. Laws
Thomas E. Laws, 49, of Pascagoula, died April 11, 2018. A grad-
uate of the University of Mississippi, he was admitted to practice Mississippi Supreme Court from 1982 to 1983. He was a longtime
in 1993. He attended church at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
82 Spring 2018
Darwin M. Maples
Darwin M. Maples, 92, of Lucedale, died April 10, 2018. A grad-
uate of the University of Mississippi, he was admitted to practice
in 1952. In 1943 he joined the U.S. Navy where he served in the
Pacific during World War II until 1946. He practiced as an attor-
ney in Lucedale, served 1952-1956 in the Mississippi House of
Representatives, served as George County Prosecuting Attorney,
and represented the Board of Supervisors. He held a three-decade
tenure as Circuit Court Judge for the 19th Judicial District serv-
ing Jackson, George, and Greene Counties. Elected in 1962, he
was the first judge of the newly formed 19th Judicial District and
served that post until he retired in 1991. He was a member and
Past Master of R.P. Bowen Lodge #430, a member of the Scottish
Rite, a Shriner, a donor for the American Red Cross, and a mem-
ber of First United Methodist Church and the Methodist Men’s
Sunday School Class.
Robert S. McLaurin
Robert S. McLaurin, Jr, 93, of Brandon, died January 23, 2018. A
graduate of Jackson School of Law, he was admitted to practice
in 1956. He was an Eagle Scout. McLaurin served in the Army
during World War II and was in Okinawa and Japan. He was
recalled into active duty with the 31st (Dixie) Division in 1951.
His total service was more than six years where he earned the
rank of Captain. As a member of Brandon First United Methodist
Church, he served as chairman of the Official Board and chair-
man of the Finance Committee. He was a past member of the
Jackson Homebuilders Association where he served as President.
He also was President of the Rankin Chamber of Commerce and
Rankin County Kiwanis Club.
James J. Sideris
James J. Sideris, 86, of Milton, FL, died December 6, 2017. A
graduate of MS College School of Law, he was admitted to prac-
tice in 1969. He practiced law for many years in Gulfport, MS.
James was a member of Pensacola Masonic Lodge #15 as a 32nd
degree mason, Scottish Rite Shriners, and Knight’s Templar. He
was a member of The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation
in Pensacola for most of his life.
Nicholas V. Wiser
Nicholas V. Wiser, 64, of Ocean Springs, died March 21, 2018. A
graduate of MS College School of Law, he was admitted to prac-
tice in 1982. Wiser practiced law for 31 years at his firm Byrd &
Wiser with Robert Alan Byrd. After graduation, he served as Law
Clerk to the Honorable Presiding Justice Vernon H. Broom of the
member of the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference. He served the
Walter Anderson Museum of Art as both a board member and its
president.
The Mississippi Lawyer