Article by Featured Author
Posted April 2026This begins a series of articles about families of attorneys with ties to Mississippi. It is fitting that I begin this series with the Lee family—a prominent legal family with roots in Scott County.
Percy Mercy Lee
The patriarch of the Lee family is Percy Lee who was born (1893) and raised in Ludlow, Mississippi—a small community in Scott County. He graduated from Mississippi College at the age of 18 in 1911 and worked as a school teacher and read law under Judge Whitfield (as was possible at the turn of the century). He worked as an assistant attorney general for a year, was elected mayor of Forest, and thereafter was a state district attorney for two terms, gaining notoriety for his prosecution of crimes committed on the infamous Gold Coast of Rankin County. He was elected a Circuit Court Judge (20 years) and then was elected and reelected as a Supreme Court Justice, serving from 1950 until 1966. He declined to run for reelection for a third term and served out his second term as the Chief Justice from 1964 to 1966. Chief Justice Lee had eight children all of whom attended Mississippi College. He died at his home in Forest, Mississippi in 1969.
Four of Percy Lee’s children became attorneys.
Percy Mercy Lee, Jr.
The oldest son, Percy Lee, did his undergraduate work at Mississippi College and attended Cumberland Law School (then located in Lebanon, Tennessee). He practiced at the Lee family law firm in Forest for a few years, but ultimately did not pursue the practice of law over the long term.
Roy Noble Lee
Roy Noble Lee--the second son of Percy Lee—also attended Mississippi College, where he eared academic honors, excelled in sports, and was elected President of the student body. Like Percy Jr., he attended Cumberland Law School and graduated with honors. He served as an FBI agent and was on a ship in the Navy during World War II. After returning home to Forest, Lee enjoyed a reputation as a skilled trial attorney, representing civil plaintiffs and criminal defendants. Following family tradition, Lee was a state district attorney and then a state circuit judge. Lee was instrumental in Mississippi College’s acquisition of the Jackson School of Law while he was on the Board of Directors of his alma mater.
Governor Cliff Finch appointed Lee to a seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court in 1976. In the primary election the following summer, Lee won more than 70% of the vote, was reelected without opposition in 1984, and like his father, decided not to run for a third term. Lee served as the Chief Justice from 1987 until his retirement in 1993, becoming the only father-son combination to serve as Chief Justice. While on the Supreme Court, Lee was instrumental in the creation of the Mississippi Court of Appeals to assist with the appellate litigation workload. After his retirement, he joined Lee & Lee Attorneys in Forest, was active in a range of community and professional organizations, and enjoyed his hunting and fishing pursuits in the great outdoors. Lee died in 2015.
James Walter Lee
The third son of Percy Lee attended the University of Mississippi School of Law and practiced law in Forest at the family law firm. He died in 2010.
Tom Stewart Lee
The youngest child of Percy Lee—Tom Lee—was first in his class at Mississippi College, where he was a star basketball player. In 1965, he was declared the outstanding graduate of his law class at the University of Mississippi. After law school, Lee served as an Army Judge Advocate officer in the reserves while practicing law at the family law firm in Forest with a general civil and criminal practice. His varied career included serving as a youth court judge, municipal judge, and as the Scott County prosecuting attorney. In 1984, he was confirmed as a US. District Court Judge, serving in that capacity for 42 years, including as Chief Judge from 1996 to 2003. Lee took senior status in 2009 though still maintaining an active caseload. Recently Judge Lee presided at the publicized “Goon Squad” cases in the Cochran Federal Courthouse. Judge Lee has long served on the Board of Trustees for Mississippi College and headed the Law School Committee.
Roy Noble Lee Jr.
Noble Lee—son of Roy Noble Lee Sr.—followed the family tradition by attending Mississippi College and then obtained his law degree from the University of Mississippi. Noble returned to the family law firm located on 2nd Street in Forest, a block from the downtown county courthouse. Noble recently announced his candidacy for Chancery Judge where he is unopposed.
Thomas D. Lee
Tommy Lee—son of Roy Noble Lee Sr.—like his brother got his schooling at Mississippi College and the University of Mississippi School of Law. He and his brother Noble operate the Lee & Lee Attorneys family law firm in Forest with a general practice.
Elizabeth Lee Maron
Elizabeth Maron—daughter of Tom Lee—received degrees from Mississippi College and the University of Mississippi School of Law, and a post graduate diploma from the University of Surrey. Elizabeth practices education and employment law at Adams & Reese, chairs their ARROW program (mentoring female attorneys), and has been designated a Mid-South Super Lawyer.
David F. Maron
David Maron—son-in-law of Tom Lee and husband of Elizabeth—came to Mississippi College to run track. He excelled academically and went on to law school at the University of Mississippi. David practiced law at Baker Donelson, served as counsel to Governor Tate Reeves, and is now the General Counsel for Community Bank. He and Elizabeth are active in a range of legal and community organizations.
Tom Stewart Lee Jr.
Stewart Lee—son of Tom Lee—followed the familiar pattern of Mississippi College for undergraduate studies and the University of Mississippi for law school. For many years, Stewart was a defense lawyer at Brunini until he left for a solo practice as a plaintiff's attorney. He is currently an administrative law judge with the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission.
Johnathan H. Jones
Johnathan Jones—stepson of Roy Noble Lee Jr—is a graduate of Mississippi College School of Law and works in the Lee & Lee Attorneys firm in Forest.
If you are part of a legal family with at least five attorneys in the family, please contact me at Rosenbla@mc.edu so I can consider your family for an article.
