Jefferson County Circuit Judge Anne Lamkin Durward, “a brilliant ray of sunshine,” died Saturday. She was 54.
Her death was first announced on the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers’ Facebook page. Durward was president of the board of directors.
According to the Facebook post, she was home with her husband, John.
“Anne was a brilliant ray of sunshine who was loved and respected by everyone she met. I honestly can’t remember when a frown or a cross word ever passed her lips. She earned the title ‘The Honorable’ in a landslide election a few years ago, and no one was more deserving. Anne was the benchmark of professionalism, enthusiasm, grace, and charm. She had a knack for putting others at ease,” said the post.
“Social media can’t express my affection for Anne, but if you want to know a little more about her, scroll through Anne’s Facebook feed. She had literally hundreds of friends in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and International Academy of Family Lawyers. As President of the AAML Foundation, Anne traveled tirelessly as a goodwill ambassador to state chapters. She was proud to be a winning coach of the Cumberland School of Law moot court team, and an active member of the Birmingham Bar Association Women Lawyers Section. She was the second-most enthusiastic Alabama college football fan in her household.”
Durward was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey to the Circuit Court of the 10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama, Domestic Relations Division in 2020 and then elected to that same position in 2022. Before becoming a judge, Durward practiced law for 25 years for Massey, Stoser & Nichols, P.C.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Washington & Lee University in 1991 and her Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1995.
A celebration of he life is planned June 8 at 3 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 3736 Montrose Road in Mountain Brook. Visitation is 2 p.m. in the church. Memorials can be sent to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation, the Birmingham Bar Foundation, or a favorite charity.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
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