Memorandum

To:	File
From:	William L. Martin, III
Subject:	Memorial and Portrait Unveiling Ceremony

Presiding Judge A.W. Birdsong, Jr.
Date:	June 26, 1998

On June 24, 1998 I had a telephone conversation with Ms. Libba Birdsong regarding the Memorial and Portrait Unveiling ceremony for Presiding Judge Birdsong. Mrs. Birdsong suggested that the Court may wish to go ahead with the July 28th date, the original date set for the portrait unveiling. Mrs. Birdsong said this was because the family had already planned to be present on that date. School starts in August and it will be difficult for grandchildren to be present after that time. Additionally, some have already made arrangements to go to camp and other commitments after July 28th.

Mrs. Birdsong also stated that she would like to go ahead and get the matter over with that it was painful to think about Judge Birdsong and continue remembering him. She stated she hoped that the portrait unveiling ceremony could be simple and hopefully we could cut down on the speeches.

She indicated she knew that Judge Birdsong had asked some people to speak but she stated that all of the speeches about him made it very difficult on her. She also said that the Bar had the breakfast and a very nice ceremony about him and that several people had spoken very eloquently about Judge Birdsong and maybe that was enough.

She did state that the ceremony was for the Court and by the Court and she appreciated that fact and certainly did not want to be officious in telling the Court how to conduct its ceremony.

I stated that we could certainly have a portrait unveiling on the 28th to accommodate her family. I stated that it is my understanding that Judge Nebaker had been asked by Judge Birdsong to speak. Mrs. Birdsong said she thought that was so. I stated that the Court could have a simple portrait unveiling ceremony and that anyone who wished to present written remarks to the Memorial Committee could do so for publication in a later bound edition of the Georgia Appeals Reports.

I reported the conversation to Chief Judge Andrews who asked me to memorialize it in a memorandum and to contact Judge Johnson to ascertain if he had spoken with Kaye Candler and to see if they had settled on a date other than July 28th.