"Whereas that fraternal feeling which characterizes the members of the Bar of the State of Georgia, which has always existed among lawyers everywhere, and which is most happily conspicuous in the bar of this city has been made closer and warmer through bereavement during the past year * * * it is but fitting for the bar of this City to give some public expression of the grief which they all sincerely feel at the loss of their co workers * * * ."
This preamble to memorials for three Macon lawyers, Judge Francis Lyon, Judge Charles Harris, and Robert Lanier, who died in 1893, is found in the minutes of Bibb Superior Court. For well over a hundred years it was the custom of this association to present such memorials for its deceased members. For much of that time the memorials were "spread upon the minutes" of the Superior Court. Copies were presented to the families of the deceased.
This practice dwindled in the 1970's and ceased altogether in the 1980's. There is now an attempt to revive the custom.
There is also a plan to place past memorials in the Archives of Washington Memorial Library, where they will be a public tribute to the departed as was intended, and available to the public for genealogical and historical purposes. Those having copies of past memorials to firm members, relatives, or associates may send me a copy if they wish to have it so preserved.
There are lawyers still active who served on memorial committees. I urge you to search your files so that this important bit of bar history may be preserved, and lawyers of the past may be suitably honored.
— Frank M. McKenney