From the President

MARTESHA L. JOHNSON, Publisher WILLIAM T. RAMSEY, Editor-in-Chief CAROLINE SAPP, Managing Editor LAUREN POOLE, Managing Editor ADRIENNE BENNETT CLUFF, Layout/Design/ Production

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

RAMONA DESALVO TIM ISHII KELLY FREY SUMMER MELTON ROB MARTIN BART PICKETT KATLIN RYAN KRISTIN THOMAS JONATHAN WARDLE

NASHVILLE BAR JOURNAL (ISSN1548-7113) (USPS 021-962) is published bi-monthly by the Nashville Bar Association, 150 4th Ave N, Ste 1350, Nashville, TN 37219. Periodicals Postage Paid at Nashville TN.

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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 think of elder Americans without thinking of my grandmother. On March 13, 2022, my grandmother Minnie turned 95 years old. This beautiful milestone allowed my family to celebrate our matriarch and all that she has been to our family, recall how her wisdom and influence has shaped our values, and renew our dedication to making sure her legacy lives on in the Johnson family for generations to come. “The original MLJ,” as I call her, has been a force in my life. My grandmother has always showered me with kind words, the right amount of spoiling, and her chicken noodle soup will go down in history as the best meal I’ve ever eaten. Amid reading tributes and birthday wishes to my grandmother, I realized that I have always been drawn to the elders of my community. From the days I spent as a child with my great aunt (I got my love for the news and solving mysteries from her) to spending time with seniors 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 life was like for my grandmother when she was my age. She faced many hardships and made sacrifices that laid the groundwork for my ability to enjoy the successes I have experienced so far. I am forever grateful for my grandmother.

An African proverb says, “the youth can walk faster, but the elder knows the road.” Anyone with the ability to learn from elder members of our community should embrace the opportunity to absorb the knowledge. There are many ways for lawyers to provide legal services for elders and the need for practitioners in this area will increase in the years to come. The US Census Bureau projects that by 2035, for the first time in American history, there will be more adults aged 65 and older than children. The Centers for Disease Control has estimated that more that 500,000 elder Americans suffer from financial elder abuse annually. The National Council on Aging reports that over 15 million (roughly 1 in 3) older adults aged 65 and up are economically insecure, living below 200% of the poverty level. I encourage us all to find ways to honor the elders among us this season by volunteering our time and talents to this important generation. It takes a village to raise a child—and to care for our elders. Happy Birthday, Nana!

In Solidarity,