William "Larry" Latham
William "Larry" Latham of Madison, Mississippi, died on February 14, 2025, with Lou Ellen, his loving wife, partner, and soul mate for more than 22 years by his side. Larry, as he was known to all, and as"Willie" to very close friends, was born in Grenada, Mississippi, on September 22, 1943. The war in Europe was raging. William Daniel "Bill" Latham and his mother Rubye Skelton Latham were his proud parents.
Attending Grenada High School, Larry gravitated toward music as opposed to football. He was a natural for the high school band and became a drummer. After graduating from John Rundle High school, Larry enrolled at Delta State College which he attended for only one semester.
He and his swing band, "the Debonaires" played numerous gigs at the Cleveland Country Club while he was enrolled at Delta State. Then Larry then enrolled at the University of Mississippi until he graduated in June of 1965 with a degree in Accounting. His first adult position was with International Paper Company in Mobile, Alabama, as a division-level Accountant. Larry entered the University of Mississippi Law School in August of 1967, graduating second in his class in August of 1969.
After a brief stint with one of Jackson's insurance defense firms, he was established as a sole practitioner, a title he loved. From 1971 to 1982 the practice was primarily for personal injury.
In January 2000, he and Todd Burwell formed the firm of Latham and Burwell. In April of 2009, he withdrew from Latham & Burwell to focus on special litigation projects and alternate dispute resolution. Larry was active in the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, serving terms as Treasurer and President. He served on numerous Mississippi State Bar Committees, including the Mississippi State Bar Workers' Compensation Committee on two occasions. Also, Larry was a Fellow in the Mississippi Bar Foundation, by invitation. Larry was also a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Mississippi Bar Association, and the Lamar Order. In recognition of the quality of his legal skills, Martindale Hubbell published an "AV" rating for Larry in 1988, and each year thereafter. The AV rating is the highest rating that Martindale Hubbell awards to attorneys.
The "Best Lawyers in America", after a peer review, recognized Larry's work and, in 2022, named Larry as "Lawyer of the Year in Arbitrations" in the Mississippi area. He continued to be named "Lawyer of the Year in Arbitrations" for several years even after he retired. Chambers USA designated Larry as a leading commercial litigator in Mississippi in 2004 and several future years. Chambers commented on Larry's 30 years of practice and recommended him as a very capable and effective lawyer with commercial astuteness, a quick mind, and practicality. In 2006, Chambers recognized Larry's practice change toward mediation and his developing reputation as a mediator. In the final sixteen years before retiring, Larry was focused on the resolution of conflicts through mediation. To prepare for this shift, Larry first completed a 40 hour course in mediation at Duke University, followed by a course at Harvard Law School. Larry worked in Mediations and Arbitrations in his home State of Mississippi and in Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee, completing more than 1750 mediations before his retirement in 2022.
He was a founding member of the Mississippi Chapter of the Association of Attorney Mediators.
Larry is survived by his loyal and caring wife, Lou Ellen, his son Dan and his wife Meredith and their children Sadie and Guy, and his daughter Ellen Rainey and her husband Cooper Lucas.
A Celebration of Life was held March 1, 2025 at the historic Chapel of the Cross. Memorial donations may be made to the Chapel of the Cross, 674 Mannsdale Road, Madison MS 39110.