Obituaries | Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Matthew P. Geary

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: February 6, 2012

Matthew P. Geary, who previously ran as the GOP nominee for Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney, died unexpectedly on Jan. 29. He was 42.
Mr. Geary served as Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Richmond from 2006 to 2009. While there, he helped convict the defendants in the 2006 murders of the Harvey family, who lived [...]

Charles V. Bashara

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: February 6, 2012

Norfolk lawyer Charles V. Bashara, who loved wearing fedoras and proudly telling courthouse staff that he was 80 and still working, collapsed in court Jan. 23 and died later that night, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
Bashara fell and struck his head against a bench, according to witnesses. Mr. Bashara’s son, Charles L. Bashara, said his father [...]

Lawrence C. Musgrove Jr.

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: January 30, 2012

Lawrence C. Musgrove Jr. died Jan. 16 in Roanoke. He was 84.
A native of Lynchburg, he served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He retired as a Major from the Air Force Reserves.
After the war, he attended college and law school, graduating from Washington & Lee University with high honors. Following [...]

Hal J. Bonney Jr.

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: January 30, 2012

Retired U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Hal J. Bonney Jr., who served on the bench for 25 years, died of cancer on Jan. 22 at his home in Norfolk. He was 82.
A native of Norfolk, Judge Bonney earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Richmond and his law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of [...]

Richard P. Kern

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: December 19, 2011

Richard P. Kern, the director of the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, died Dec. 13 after a long battle with cancer. He was 58.
Dr. Kern earned Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in criminology from Florida State University; he received his undergraduate degree from King’s College.
Gov. Bob McDonnell issued a statement praising him: “Virginia has lost a [...]

Billie M. Millner

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: December 12, 2011

Newport News attorney Billie M. Millner died Dec. 1 after a brief illness. He was 82.
Mr. Millner was born in Newport News and graduated from Newport News High School and Hampden-Sydney College, where he was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa. He served three years in the United States Marine Corps and retired as a Captain. [...]

Frank S. Ferguson

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: December 12, 2011

Frank S. Ferguson of Chesterfield County died Nov. 24 after a long illness. He was 58.
He had retired from the state attorney general’s office in late 2009, but continued to serve as counsel to the Virginia Lottery Department and Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.
Mr. Ferguson, a former chief assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Suffolk, first [...]

J. Clifford Hutt

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: December 5, 2011

J. Clifford Hutt, who practiced law in the Northern Neck for more than four decades, died Nov. 13. He was 91.
Mr. Hutt graduated from Virginia Tech, and he earned his law degree from the University of Richmond. Each of his three sons and four of his grandchildren went to Virginia Tech. Two sons and two [...]

Bobby B. Stafford

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: November 21, 2011

Former Alexandria criminal defense lawyer Bobby B. Stafford died Nov. 8 in Winnsboro, S.C.
He was 71.
Mr. Stafford, who stood 6’8”, was known for his flamboyant but effective style in and out of the courtroom. He also was a volunteer, serving a member of the Board of Visitors of Norfolk State University, as president of the [...]

Chandler Anderson Nelson Sr.

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: November 14, 2011

Chandler Anderson Nelson Sr., a lawyer and civic leader in Halifax County, died Nov. 7 at his Virgilina home. He was 79.
Mr. Nelson practiced law for four decades with the firms of Tuck, Dillard, Bagwell, Mapp, Nelson and Dillard; and Dillard, Nelson and Dillard before his retirement.
In addition to serving as an attorney for the [...]

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