OUR TEAM AT WARD LAW FIRM
JEFF WARD
Attorney
Jeff Ward is an honors graduate from the University of Memphis where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Political Science. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Mississippi College School of Law. Mr. Ward worked in law enforcement and security for more than a decade before beginning his legal career. He has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Memphis where he has taught Constitutional Law, Evidence and Law and Society. Mr. Ward has served as the Special Judge for the City of Millington, TN. He currently serves as Chairman of the Tipton County Friends of the NRA, Past Board Member of the Tipton Arts Council, Past Board Member of Tipton Cares, Past Board Member of Tipton County Clay Busters, Past Chairman of the Tipton County Republican Party, and volunteers his time for various Veterans and an annual Sock Drive for the Homeless. Mr. Ward enjoys reading nonfiction, writing, target shooting, hunting, abstract painting and collecting all forms of art.
Mr. Ward’s legal practice includes civil litigation, business and contract law, entertainment law, family law, criminal law, civil rights and bankruptcy. Mr. Ward has represented a number of government entities and regularly represents candidates for public office. He is the City Attorney for Maury City, Tennessee and currently serves as General Counsel for the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women. He and his wife Christal have three sons.
HEATHER HILL
Retired Attorney
Heather Marie Hill obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business from Capella University and her Juris Doctorate degree from the Cecil C. Humphrey’s School of Law at the University of Memphis. Formerly a Vice President of Electronic Banking at National Bank of Commerce and a Senior Financial Analyst at Medtronic. After working as corporate counsel for Evergreen Packaging, Inc., she enjoyed a successful private practice. Ms. Hill served on the board of Tipton County CASA and was a member of the Memphis Bar Association. When not practicing law, Ms. Hill liked to spend her time cheering on the Tipton County Storm Girls Rugby Club, spending time with her husband, a retired naval officer, and playing with her dogs.
Ms. Hill retired in mid 2016 and is currently living the life of a beach bum in Costa Rica and other tropical destinations. She is sorely missed.
SHIRLEY WARD
Office Manager & Paralegal
Shirley Ward attended the University of Tennessee at Martin and the National Institute for Paralegal Arts and Sciences. Ms. Ward serves as Paralegal and Office Manager. Ms. Ward was elected twice as the President of the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women. Ms. Ward served as the National Campaign Chairman for the National Federation of Republican Women. She has served on the National Nominating Committee for the National Federation of Republican Women. She currently serves as the state Campaign Chairman and Chairman of the Nominating Committee for the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women. She has served as the President of the Tipton County Republican Women where she was named Republican Women of the Year. She served as Co-Chairman for Bush/Cheney 2000 and 2004. Ms. Ward has served as County Chairman for a number Gubernatorial, Senate, Congressional and State House candidates. Ms. Ward is the past Co-Chairman of the Tipton County Republican Party and the 8th Congressional District Republican Coalition.
Ms. Ward was in the first graduating class of the Volunteer State Excellence in Public Service Series and later served on its Advisory Board. She has served on the Board of the Tipton County Chamber of Commerce where she was named Director of the Year for two consecutive years, and the President of the Tipton County Board for the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Ms. Ward is the Past President of the Covington Exchange Club, the Past President of the Tipton County Business and Professional Woman and the Past President of the South Tipton Business Club
CHRISTAL WARD
Marketing, Public Relations & Billing
Christal wears many hats and performs many jobs. While handling the marketing, public relations and billing for the law firm, she also oversees and manages the other businesses owned by her and her husband, Jeff. She has returned to college to study business and finance. She enjoys spending time with her sons and husband. She enjoy cooking, target shooting, kickboxing and attending concerts and University of Memphis football games.
DREW SOUTH
Law Clerk
Drew South is a graduate of Brighton High School and Dyersburg State Community College. He played football in high school and enjoys target shooting and the outdoors to stay active. Drew is an excellent guitar player and also writes music. He is currently a full-time college student at UT Martin majoring in Criminal Justice and Business with plans to attend law school. The firm is happy to lean on Drew for all IT questions and problems!
ANGELA CHANNEL
Nursing Consultant/Certified Legal Nurse
Angela Motes Channell serves as the firm’s nursing consultant. Ms. Channell has an Associates Degree in Nursing from Baptist School of Nursing and her Bachelors of Nursing from Union University. She completed all of the requirements to become a Certified Legal Nursing Consulting from Kaplan University. Ms. Channell has been a nurse for twenty three years working in the areas of case management in both hospitals and through workers compensation.
Ms. Channell is devoted to her family and enjoys spending every minute she can with her two beautiful daughters. She loves to cook and garden. She has recently taken up target pistol shooting and is learning to bow hunt.
TINA SEYMOUR
Unaffiliated Contract Attorney
Attorney Tina Seymour is not a member of the Ward Law Firm but works with the firm on a contract basis for special projects in relation to her extraordinary medical regulatory and compliance expertise. Ms. Seymour has over twenty two years of professional medical experience. She has been published in medical trade magazines and invited to speak at clinics and seminars on topics from care of the critically ill patient to corporate compliance program creation and auditing.
Ms. Seymour has over 400 hours of training in Hospital Incident Command, OSHA site inspection/review, Medicaid/Medicare issues, regulatory review, and Medical Coding.She holds current Mississippi licenses in law and respiratory therapy, and is a licensed broker with the Mississippi Real Estate Commission. She is admitted to all state and federal courts in Mississippi and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Ms. Seymour was honored by Mississippi College School of Law as the 2009 Young Lawyer of the Year and the Mississippi Business Journal as a member of the 2011 Top 40 Under 40 class. Her office is located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast at 11050 Lamey Bridge Road D’iberville, MS 39540, 228-669-4004.
CAPT. C.T. FREEMAN
Forensics Expert & Psychophysiologist
C.T. Freeman retired from the Southaven Police Department in 2007 as a Detective Captain, Chief of Detectives and Forensic Psychophysiologist. He is a recognized instructor in the areas of Crime Scene Investigation, Hostage/Crisis Negotiations, Interview and Interrogation, and Statement Analysis. Captain Freeman is a certified Polygraph Examiner and is licensed both in Tennessee and Mississippi. Captain Freeman is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center. Captain Freeman received his Master of Arts in Criminology with a concentration in Sociology from The University of Memphis and received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from The University of Memphis as well. He is a retired Professor with the University of Memphis Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice where he specialized in Policing, Forensics, and Crime Scene Investigations.
Captain Freeman is a member of the American Association of Police Polygraphist, the American Polygraph Association, the Mississippi Polygraph Association and a member of the International Association of Identification, Captain Freeman also spent ten years in the United States Army serving as a Military Police Officer.
DR. KRISTIN JOHNSON, PHD., NCSP
Consultant, Doctor of School Psychology
Dr. Kristin Johnson holds a PhD in School Psychology, is a nationally accredited School Psychologist and is the co-owner of TIER which serves as experts and consultants related to the assessment and instruction for both children with and without special needs or disabilities. Dr. Johnson earned her Bachelor’s degree and Specialist in School Psychology from Nicholls State University. She received her PhD in School Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. Her company TIER provides school districts, government education agencies, institutions of higher learning, non-governmental educational organizations and parents services and products to build their capacity to meet the needs of children. Dr. Johnson is nationally recognized as a leader in this field from her publications, her peer-reviewed national, state and regional presentations and the instructions she has provided to educational professionals across the country. Ensuring children with special needs and disabilities are afforded all of the opportunities and tools allowed within state and federal law is a growing area of the law. Dr. Johnson will be a great asset to the Ward Law Firm. You can learn more about Johnson and her company by visiting her website, www.evidencebasedreform.com.
JOHN EVANS
Investigator
John Evans serves as the firm’s Chief Investigator. He is a graduate of Jonesboro High School and has more than ten years of experience in security and investigations. John is recognized as a firearms expert with twenty five years in the firearm business. John is involved in state and national issues related to the 2nd Amendment. He serves as Co-Chairman of the Tipton County Friends of the NRA, is a motorcycle enthusiasts and donates his time to philanthropic endeavors for veterans and law enforcement groups. John enjoys hunting, camping and generally any outdoor activity
DOUG WARD
Goodwill Ambassador
Doug Ward was a retired insurance adjuster with more than forty years of experience. Sadly, we lost Doug on January 6, 2021. Mr. Ward was a former United States Army Ranger who served during the Korean War. He studied law at LaSalle Extension Services based in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Ward attended numerous schools and seminars on personal, injury, property damage, arson and accident reconstruction. He keept himself busy serving at the firm’s ambassador of good will and handyman. We love and miss him.
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