On Thursday, December 13 a number of friends, family and colleagues gathered in the Grand Jury room of the Winston County Courthouse to honor retiring Chancery Judge Eddie Fenwick.
Fenwick has spent many years in the legal profession, in private practice for a number of years before being elected to the Chancery Judge post 12 years ago in 2006 and relected in 2010 and 2014.
Fenwick's cousin, local attorney Niles McNeel, spoke highly of Fenwick and also shared some humorous stories at the gathering.
Fenwick also was recently recognized by the Mississippi House of Representatives with a resolution in honor of his service.
The resolution read as:House Resolution 7
A Resolution Commending Judge Edward C. Fenwick For His Outstanding Professional Accomplishments Upon The Occasion Of His Retirement From The Sixth Chancery Court District Of Mississippi.
Whereas, the Honorable Edward C. Fenwick has devoted his life to serving and improving the State of Mississippi through his outstanding professional contributions, as well as his incredible community leadership and public service, and is retiring from his position as Chancellor in the Sixth Chancery Court District of Mississippi; and
Whereas, as the fifth of six sons born to Jack and Bertha Fenwick in Kosciusko, Mississippi, Judge Fenwick graduated from Mississippi State University in 1975, earning his bachelor's degree in English, and subsequently he attended the University of Mississippi School of Law, graduating in 1979; and
Whereas, after graduating from law school, Judge Fenwick returned to his hometown of Kosciusko, where he practiced law as a public defender in Attala County and part-time public defender in Winston County, honing his skills as a barrister and sharpening his legal acumen, which would prove critically instrumental to his objectivity and reasonableness in his ascent and service to the bench; and
Whereas, as a man of great integrity and character, and revered for his impeccable expertise and tremendous public service, Judge Fenwick's abilities were recognized by his community and he was elected as Chancery Court Judge in November 2006 and began serving the Sixth Chancery Court District of Mississippi on January 1, 2007; and
Whereas, as a jurist who values service and community enrichment, Judge Fenwick has continuously and consistently availed himself of his post to serve as a purveyor of truth and to establish a reputable and esteemed rapport with those he has both counseled and adjudicated; and
Whereas, outside of his professional career, Judge Fenwick is tremendously devoted to his wife of over 43 years, Jean Simpson Fenwick, his three children, Melissa Fenwick, Julia Fenwick Ost and Edward Chappell "Chap" Fenwick Jr. and his two grandchildren, Jack Conelly Fenwick and Beatrice Evelyn Ost; and
Whereas, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the magnificent contributions and unparalleled community service that exceptional Mississippians such as Judge Edward C. Fenwick provide to the citizens of this great Magnolia State:
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved By The House Of Representatives Of The State Of Mississippi, That we do hereby recognize and commend Judge Edward C. Fenwick for his outstanding community service and impressive professional accomplishments upon the occasion of his retirement, and extend best wishes for continued success in his lighter days to come.
