I went to law school because I met a great man who promised me fried chicken. True story.
His name was Louis Westerfield, and he was the first African American Dean of the Ole Miss Law School. I met him when I was in college, and I was tasked with escorting him and his wife around the campus. The tour that was supposed to be one day turned into two days, and the second day consisted of him trying to woo me to the Ole Miss Law School. My firm answer? NO. So, we go to this restaurant and they have the best fried chicken ever. He tells me that his wife's fried chicken is 10 times better, and if I came to Ole Miss I could have dinner with them once a week, on the night they had fried chicken.
In college, I only knew half of what I wanted. I wanted to be a lawyer. I had the brains, but I didn't think I had the personality. I wasn't stern, or serious, or aggressive. I was compassionate and creative, but still assertive. He appreciated those qualities, and he genuinely believed that I could be a great lawyer and an advocate. And, let me tell you, he didn't let up. So, under duress and with the promise of fried chicken, I arrived at Ole Miss. And, for 18 days, Dean Westerfield help up his end of the bargain. On my 19th day at Ole Miss, he died.
August 24, 1996. That was the day I decided that I would be the lawyer he thought I could be.
Fast forward to 2012, when I land in Memphis, Tennessee. I started here as a Guardian Ad Litem in juvenile courts serving dependent and neglected children. Then, I started to assist clients with custody issues. From there, I started a practice based on custody, which naturally evolved into divorce and custody litigation. I love what I do. I love that no family is the same, and that there are no one size fit all solutions.
My calm temperament and compassion allow me to stand in the gap between war and peace for my clients. My experience, ability to listen, and knowledge help me to be a guide.
One day during Dean Westerfield’s visit, I said to him “Oh, I don’t know what I wanna do.” He said to me “You don’t have to know. What you want to do will find you.” And, here I am.