Page 42 - Demo

Individuals are invited to donate to theMississippi Bar Foundationin memory of any Mississippi attorney.The Foundation will ensure the family is notified in writingof your thoughtful gesture.Mississippi Bar Foundation | P.O. Box 2168 | Jackson MS 39225-2168IN MEMORIAMARLIN C. %u201cCOTTON%u201d RUTHVENArlin C. %u201cCotton%u201d Ruthven, 80, of Water Valley, died September 25,2025. Ruthven was appointed at the age of 18 to the U.S. MilitaryAcademy at West Point, and after graduation went on active duty.He served as an infantryman Airborne Ranger during two tours ofduty in the Vietnam War, rising to the rank of Combat CompanyCommander in the First Air Cavalry Division. Awards Ruthven earnedduring his service included the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star with %u201cV%u201d Device. Ruthven retiredfrom active duty in 1972 and attended Georgetown University. Later,he earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi Schoolof Law and was admitted to The Mississippi Bar in 1977. Workingin Jackson, Ruthven served as a law clerk to Chief Justices RobertGillespie, Neville Patterson, and Harry Walker of the MississippiSupreme Court before he entered private practice. First, he was anassociate at Thompson, Alexander & Crews, and later became a partner at Waller & Waller, practicing corporate law. In addition, Ruthvenserved as an assistant district attorney for Hinds and Yazoo Counties.In 1990, he moved to Oxford and became Senior Research Counselat the Mississippi Law Research Institute (MLRI) at the University ofMississippi School of Law, serving until his retirement in 2024.PAMELA D. SLATEPamela D. Slate, 59, of Montgomery, Alabama, died September 28,2025. She earned two undergraduate degrees, one from BirminghamSouthern College and another from University of Alabama atBirmingham. She earned a Juris Doctorate from Cumberland Schoolof Law at Samford University and was admitted to The Mississippi Barin 1995. She owned her own firm, but in 2012 she became a partnerin Hill Hill Carter in Montgomery.JOHN CALHOUN SULLIVAN, JR.John Calhoun Sullivan, Jr., 86, of Madison, died September 20,2025. After earning an undergraduate degree from Millsaps College,he earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of MississippiSchool of Law and was admitted to The Mississippi Bar in 1963.Sullivan then joined his father%u2019s law firm, where he practiced for 58years. In his career, Sullivan was General Counsel for the MississippiManufactured Housing Association and the Utility Division of theAssociated General Contractors Association. He was a AV PreeminentMartindale-Hubbell peer reviewed attorney for more than 30 years.G. GAYLE %u201cGLADYS%u201d TARTG. Gayle %u201cGladys%u201d Tart, 72, of Gulfport, died August 1, 2025. Afterearning an undergraduate degree from Tennessee State University, sheearned a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law andwas admitted to The Mississippi Bar in 1986. Tart had a 45-year lawcareer.STEPHEN LEE THOMASStephen Lee Thomas, 76, of Jackson, died December 5, 2025. Afterearning an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi,he earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi Schoolof Law and was admitted to The Mississippi Bar in 1973. In his earlycareer, he was a partner in the Greenville-based Mansour, Kilpatrick,and Thomas firm and later in the Lake Tindall firm. Upon moving toJackson in 2001, Thomas joined the Bradley Arant firm. Throughoutthe course of his career he was recognized with a Best Lawyers inAmerica listing and became a Fellow of the American College of TrialLawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates. The MississippiBar Foundation honored him as a Fellow in 1999.STEVE C. THORNTONSteve C. Thornton, 67, of Jackson, died August 7, 2025. After earningan undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University, he earneda Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law. Thorntonworked for the Snell & Wilmer law firm in Phoenix, Arizona, untilhe started a private practice in 1996. He became a registered patentattorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Thornton wasadmitted to practice in Mississippi and Arizona as well as state anddistrict courts in both states, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the FifthCircuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.OTIS R. TIMSOtis R. Tims, 73, of Tupelo, died December 12, 2025. He earned anundergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and workedat three different daily newspapers following college. He then returnedto the university to work in the Chancellor%u2019s office and then earned hisJuris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law. Timswas admitted to The Mississippi Bar in 1985. In his legal career, hepracticed at Mitchell, McNutt & Sams for four decades, specializing inenvironmental law and intellectual property. Tims served as the boardattorney for the Tupelo Public School District for many years. TheMississippi Bar Foundation honored him as a Fellow in 2014.CHARLES RAYMOND WAITS IIICharles Raymond Waits III, 46, of Jasper, Alabama, died July 15,2025. He earned an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University.He earned a Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law atSamford University and was admitted to The Mississippi Bar in 2005.Waits practiced law at Columbus, Mississippi-based Colom Law Firm,at a solo practice in Decatur, Alabama, and opened Charlie WaitsAttorney at Law in Jasper. He practiced family law, personal injury,and criminal defense.42 WINTER 2026