FROM THE PRESIDENT
The Original MLJ | Martesha L. Johnson
The feature article in this Bar Journal is on issues facing elders and the case of Mary Northern. I can’t WILLIAM T. RAMSEY, Editor-in-Chief think of elder Americans without thinking of my grandCAROLINE SAPP, Managing Editor mother. On March 13, 2022, my grandmother Minnie LAUREN POOLE, Managing Editor turned 95 years old. This beautiful milestone allowed ADRIENNE BENNETT CLUFF, Layout/Design/ my family to celebrate our matriarch and all that she Production has been to our family, recall how her wisdom and influencehasshapedourvalues,andrenew ourdedica EDITORIAL COMMITTEE tion to making sure her legacy lives on in the Johnson RAMONA DESALVO family for generations to come. “The original MLJ,” as TIM ISHII I call her, has been a force in my life. My grandmother KELLY FREY has always showered me with kind words, the right amount of spoiling, and her chicken SUMMER MELTON noodle soup will go down in history as the best meal I’ve ever eaten. Amid reading tribROB MARTIN utes and birthday wishes to my grandmother, I realized that I have always been drawn BART PICKETT to the elders of my community. From the days I spent as a child with my great aunt (I KATLIN RYAN KRISTIN THOMAS got my love for the news and solving mysteries from her) to spending time with seniors JONATHAN WARDLE at care facilities at various stages in my life, I truly enjoy the opportunities to learn and hear stories from the generations from those who paved the way. I often imagine what NASHVILLE BAR JOURNAL (ISSN1548-7113) (USPS life was like for my grandmother when she was my age. She faced many hardships 021-962) is published bi-monthly by the Nashville Bar and made sacrifices that laid the groundwork for my ability to e Association, 150 4th Ave N, Ste 1350, Nashville, TN 37219. Periodicals Postage Paid at Nashville TN. have experienced so far. I am forever grateful for my grandmother. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Nashville An African proverb says, “the youth can walk faster, but the elder knows the road.” Bar Journal, 150 4th Ave N, Ste 1350, Nashville, TN Anyone with the ability to learn from elder members of our community should embrace 37219-2419. the opportunity to absorb the knowledge. There are many ways for lawyers to provide No part of this publication may be reprinted without legal services for elders and the need for practitioners in this area will increase in the written permission of the Nashville Bar Journal Editorial yearstocome.TheUSCensusBureauprojectsthatbyfor 2035, the firstt Committee. All articles, letters, and editorials contained in this publication represent the views of the authors ican history, there will be more adults aged 65 and older than children. The Centers anddonotnecessarilyreflecttheopinions oftheNash for Disease Control has estimated that more that 500,000 elder Americans suffer from ville Bar Association. For more information, visit NashvilleBar.org/NashvilleBarJournal. financial elder abuse annually. The National Council on Aging re million (roughly 1 in 3) older adults aged 65 and up are economically insecure, living The Nashville Bar Journal welcomes discourse. You may below 200% of the poverty level. submit counterpoint editorials to Adrienne.BennettCluff@ I encourage us all to find ways to nashvillebar.org to be considered by the editorial committee for publication in a future print or online content. honor the elders among us this season by volunteering our time NASHVILLE BAR ASSOCIATION and talents to this important gen150 4th Ave N, Ste 1350 Nashville, TN 37219 eration. It takes a village to raise a 615-242-9272 | NashvilleBar.org child—and to care for our elders. Happy Birthday, Nana! The Nashville Bar Association, established in 1831, is a MARTESHA L. JOHNSON, Publisher
professional organization serving the legal community of Nashville, Tennessee. Our mission is to improve the practice of law through education, service, and fellowship. The NBA—with 2,500+ members—is the largest metropolitan bar association in Tennessee.
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NASHVILLE BAR JOURNAL | APRIL/MAY 2022
In Solidarity,
