Bar Center Dedication Ceremony Expands Liberty Garden Recognitions
The North Carolina Bar Foundation (NCBF) dedicated two new Liberty Garden Benches and 10 new Liberty Garden Stone Pavers in conjunction with the NCBF Dedication Ceremony on October 19.
One Liberty Garden Bench was dedicated in memory of Chief Justice Emery Denny and Wallace Ashley Jr., and another Liberty Garden Bench was dedicated in memory of Rudy L. Ogburn, who was also honored through the establishment of an NCBF Justice Fund.
Liberty Garden Pavers were donated by the NCBA Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law Section in honor of past section chairs Linda Johnson and Rebecca Smitherman, and by the N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys in honor of Nick Ellis, Tricia Shields, Bonnie Weyher and Gray Wilson as past recipients of the J. Robert Elster Award for Professional Excellence.
Pavers were also donated by family, friends and colleagues in memory of Holt Gwyn (1949-2017) of Greensboro, past chair of the NCBA Construction Law Section; Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. (1934-2019) of Raleigh, who served as chief justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina from 2001-06; Patrick Pait (1983-2018) of Lumberton, who was a member of the NCBA Leadership Academy’s Class of 2016; and Paul Sheridan (1965-2019) of Fuquay-Varina, a founding partner of Hannah, Sheridan & Cochran in Raleigh and active member of the NCBA Construction Law Section.
The Chief Justice Emery B. Denny and Wallace Ashley Jr. Liberty Garden Bench was made possible through the generosity of Emery Denny Ashley and his son, Emery Denny Ashley Jr. The honorees and donors represent four generations of lawyers from the same family. Wallace Ashley Jr. (1928-2017) opened his practice in Smithfield in 1958 and was joined by his son, Emery D. Ashley, in 1989. Emery D. Ashley Jr. joined his father to form Ashley & Ashley in January 2022.
Four generations of lawyers from one family are included in this photo, beginning with the upper right-hand portrait of Chief Justice Emery B. Denny and continuing, from left, with Emery D. Ashley, Emery D. Ashley Jr., and the late Jean and Wallace Ashley Jr.
Chief Justice Emery B. Denny (1892-1973), grandfather of Emery Denny Ashley and great-grandfather of Emery Denny Ashley Jr., served on the Supreme of North Carolina as an associate justice from 1942-62 and as chief justice from 1962-66. Denny was also a former mayor of Gastonia and chaired the successful gubernatorial campaign of J. Melville Broughton, a past president of the NCBA.
“My grandfather died in 1973 when I was 12,” said Emery Denny Ashley, “and my personal memories consist mostly of his love of family, celebrating his birthday at Thanksgiving, attending Hayes Barton Baptist Church with him, and watching the Raleigh Christmas parade from the justices’ offices on the upper floors of the Justice Building. My overall knowledge of him comes through my mother and family, family history and historical records, which add to my affection and admiration. I am proud of his legacy.”
Regarding his father, Ashley continued, “I am still processing my dad’s death after five years, and how much his memory means to me, even more and more each day. Not a day goes by when I do not have questions for him, legal and personal.” Ashley’s wife Kim adds, “Mr. Ashley set the standard for kindness, graciousness and family.”
Dedication of the Chief Justice Emery B. Denny and Wallace Ashley Jr. Liberty Garden Bench, Ashley concluded, serves as a reminder of the impact both men had on their family and beyond.
“Both men were devoted to their families and communities and loved to read and loved the law,” Ashley said. “Throughout their lives, both contributed quietly and consistently to the well-being of their communities, their fellow man, and the legal profession. Granddad and Dad have been and continue to be inspirational to us personally and professionally. Their lives of consistent devotion to family, faith, church, community, and the legal profession are aspirational standards.”
The Rudy L. Ogburn Liberty Garden Bench was made possible through the generosity of members of the NCBA Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Section. Ogburn, who died on March 30 at the age of 65 following a courageous battle with cancer, practiced 31 years with Young Moore and Henderson of Raleigh and was an active member of the section, serving as chair and receiving its Distinguished Service Award.
Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Section members, from left, Sharon Daniel, Jean Carter, Larry Rocamora, Kim Garcia, Linda Johnson and Paula Kohut.
His legacy, recalled longtime colleague Linda Johnson, included the countless lives he touched throughout his life as a mentor, teacher and friend, and his gratitude at all times.
“In spite of being diagnosed with a terminal disease, Rudy chose to approach his cancer journey and its affect on his life with gratitude,” Johnson said. “Gratitude for his faith, his wife, his three children, his extended family, his work family, his friends, and his medical team, all of whom renewed and strengthened him. Rudy analyzed his cancer journey to determine what is important in life, so he was thankful for that and the grace and the kindness that was shown to him.”
Faith and joy, Johnson added, were also an essential component of his legacy.
“Rudy found joy in being part of a household of faith and enjoyed the fellowship, love and prayers of his brothers and sisters in Christ during his illness,” Johnson said. “He found joy in the laughter and tears he shared with family and friends.”
The NCBF Annual Fund, which is supported in part by Liberty Garden recognitions, provides operational support to pro bono and civic education programs that annually engage hundreds of attorney volunteers to serve thousands of North Carolinians in all 100 North Carolina counties. Liberty Garden Walkway Benches are underwritten through a gift of $5,000. Liberty Garden Stone Pavers are made possible through a gift of $500.
Russell Rawlings is director of external affairs and communications for the North Carolina Bar Association.