Filemon Vela: “It is with a great deal of regret that I cannot join family and friends of Jesse Thomas Rhodes, known as Tom, as he is…”

“It is with a great deal of regret that I cannot join family and friends of Jesse Thomas Rhodes, known as Tom, as he is laid to rest today. Tom was, as he would often remind us, the first baby born on January 1, 1955, in Memphis, Tennessee. He is survived by his loving wife, Beth, and his children, Jessica and Robert. Clarence Darrow once said: ``Justice has nothing to do with what goes on in a courtroom; justice is what comes out of a courtroom.'' Over the years, there has been many a lawyer in this great country who has dedicated his or her life to securing justice for their clients in courtrooms all across this land. Today, I pay tribute to those advocates and to Tom Rhodes, the lawyer. Tom Rhodes was everything a lawyer should be. Tom Rhodes was a fierce advocate. Tom Rhodes was a compassionate counselor. Tom Rhodes was a consummate negotiator. Tom Rhodes communicated with a degree of clarity that always exposed the truth. It was not his considerable courtroom presence, his skill as a lawyer, or the ferocity of his advocacy, however, that left such a lasting impression with most of the people with whom he crossed paths. Instead, it was his generosity and his infectious sense of humor that people will always remember. He constantly made small gestures of kindness to total strangers. He went out of his way to help family, friends, and the people who worked for him. He felt a constant need to give back to the community and to the world.…”