Class of 1951
(Notes posted in the order they were received, with the newest posts on top.)
John Leslie Shelburne, Jr., 83, of San Antonio, Texas, died July 15, 2007, at the Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. He was born July 14, 1924, in Garland, Texas, to John Leslie Shelburne, Sr. and Martha Eddie Shelburne. After graduating from Mineola High School in Mineola, Texas, he served as LTJG in the United States Navy during World War II. He received his B.A. from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he was President of the Student Body, and his law degree from Vanderbilt University. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Frances Graves Shelburne, a daughter and son-in-law, Marcie and Evan Stanley, two sons and a daughter-in-law, Dr. John G. Shelburne and Michael L. and Leslie Shelburne and grandson, Carter Stanley. After graduation from Vanderbilt, he entered the service of the Federal Bureau of Investigation where he served for 25 years in leadership capacities until his retirement in Memphis, Tennessee. He retired to Laurel where he lived for 22 years. He served in many leadership roles at First United Methodist Church and was active in Cursillo, the Christian Food Mission and Crime Stoppers.
Sydney Keeble, a longtime senior official with Life & Casualty Insurance in Nashville, died January 25, 2007 at home at the age of 78.
Keeble spent much of his career and later life heavily involved in philanthropy. Charities and institutions that can claim his support over the years include the Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee, the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, various Catholic charities and Vanderbilt University. Additionally, he was a former president of Belle Meade Country Club.
"He was truly a great community supporter," said longtime friend Ed Nelson, former CEO of Nashville's Commerce Union Bank. "He was a great sportsman and had a fabulous sense of humor. The public will miss him greatly."
Keeble is survived by his wife Sheila, son Patrick, and daughters Grace and Anne.
Shelby Wyatt Smoot, 81, of Kingsport, Tennessee, passed away January 17, 2007, at Indian Path Hospital in Kingsport. He was born in Decatur, Alabama, and was a son of the late Anne Boyd Peques and Shelby Wyatt Smoot. Mr. Smoot served in the Armed Forces with the 281st Engineer Combat Battalion - ETO. He practiced law until 2005. He was a very caring person who loved to help people with their legal problems.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Omer Smoot and an infant brother, Willie Smoot; three sisters, Viola Smoot Plemons, Dorothy Smoot McDavid, and Margie Smoot Homa. He is survived by his loving wife, Marywood House Smoot; two daughters, Sherrie Smoot Farmer and husband Ken, Kathy Smoot Clauson; one brother, Thomas Smoot and wife Mary; one sister, Gloria Smoot Nettles and husband Sam; 10 grandchildren, Sarah, Bethany, Benjamin, Hannah, Jackson, Isaac, and James Farmer, Schuyler, Austin Shelby and Lindsay Clauson; faithful friend, his dog, Miss Sadie.
David D. Rutherford of Brentwood, Tennessee died August 20, 2005 at Vanderbilt Medical Center after an extended illness. A long-time Nashville Lawyer and author, Mr. Rutherford was the senior member of the Rutherford Law Offices, where he had practiced law during his entire legal career. His law firm traces its roots to 1890, when his uncle, Alfred G. Rutherford, opened a law office in Nashville. Survivors include his son, David Clyde Rutherford, Jr.; his daughters, Cheryl Lin Rutherford and Cynthia Lea Rutherford; his grandchildren, Christopher David Rutherford and lan Michael Rutherford. Mr. Rutherford was preceded in death by his brothers and law partners, Charles H. Rutherford, Jr. and James W, Rutherford, as well as by another brother, Alfred G. Rutherford, who served many years as Circuit Court Clerk of Davidson County, and Frank D. Rutherford, educator; two sisters, Mrs. J. Vaulx Crockett (Katheryn) and Mrs. P. L. DeMarco (Jeanne); brother, Joseph H. Rutherford, contractor; and nephew, J. William Rutherford, who was a Davidson County Circuit Court Judge at the time of his death in 1978. Three other nephews are active in the Rutherford Law Offices at this time, and another nephew, Thomas S. Rutherford, is an attorney in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Rutherford also leaves a host of other nephews and nieces, as well as many great nieces and nephews, and he was always very proud of them.
After his graduation from East Nashville High School in 1941, Mr. Rutherford volunteered for the Merchant Marines. Following service during World War II, he received his undergraduate education at Peabody College, then entered Vanderbilt Law School, where he was President of the student body during his third year. Upon graduation from law school, he became Congressional Secretary for U.S. Senator Albert Gore, Sr. and worked in Washington, DC for two years, until he returned to Nashville to enter law practice.
A former President of the Nashville Bar Association, Mr. Rutherford was the Author of Bench and Bar, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee - a history of the creation of the courts of Tennessee, in the days before Tennessee obtained statehood, and of their operation until the present time. His passion for Nashville legal history made him the dean of Nashville legal historians, according to Senior United States District Judge Thomas A. Higgins, who said that Mr. Rutherford also was well-known for his frequent gifts to other lawyers of fresh eggs from his own chickens. Perhaps his most satisfying legal victory was a decision of the Supreme Court of Tennessee requiring the City of Oak Hill to grant First Christian Church a permit to build Franklin Road Academy, after refusing to grant same initially, according to Ralph DeMarco, a nephew and one of Mr. Rutherford's law partners, who said that Mr. Rutherford's law practice included a broad range of trial and appellate work.
During his World War II service as a crew member of a U.S. Army transportation ship, Mr. Rutherford crossed the English Channel 26 times, delivering gasoline to ports in Belgium and France, according to DeMarco. He later was appointed Judge Advocate of the American Merchant Marine Veterans and served 35 parliamentarian at its national conventions, DeMarco said. He received Honorable Discharges from the U.S. Merchant Marine, as well as the U.S. Army Transportation Corp. Mr. Rutherford was baptized at the Edgefield Baptist Church and later served as a deacon there, also serving as a Sunday school teacher. He later was a Member of the First Baptist Church and First Christian Church. He is a former Member of Edgefield Masonic Lodge, Al Menah Temple, Bluegrass Country Club and Brentwood Country Club. He is a fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation and of the Tennessee Bar Foundation. He was also a Member of the American Bar Association and of the American Legion. Memorials may be made to the Nashville Bar Foundation or to the charity of one's choice.
Frank Joseph Romeo passed away on December 29, 2005. Mr. Romeo was a Commercial Mortgage Banker for many years and was with Hancock Mortgage and Equitrust Mortgage in Gulfport, Miss., before moving to Lafayette in 1991. He continued his mortgage banking and real estate career until his retirement. Mr. Romeo served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theatre. He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and a Fourth Degree Knight with the St. Pius Knights of Columbus Council 8901. Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Romeo's name to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Suite 200, Lafayette, LA, 70503.
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