Chancellor Talmadge Littlejohn

1935 - 2015

NEW ALBANY – Chancellor Talmadge D. Littlejohn, 80, passed away Oct. 26, 2015, at Baptist Memorial Hospital - Union County, New Albany. Born on Oct. 18, 1935, to the late Ivy Lee and Annie Laurie Speck Littlejohn, he grew up on a farm in the New Harmony community in Union County and graduated valedictorian of New Harmony High School. Littlejohn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with Special Distinction and served as Student Body president and Student Body attorney at Mississippi College before attending the University of Mississippi Law School. He served the student body of the Ole Miss Law School as attorney general and president.
Littlejohn began a political and judicial career that would span six decades. He was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives at the age of 23 and the Mississippi State Senate at the age of 27. He then served the Third Circuit Court District of Mississippi as District Attorney for two terms. He was municipal judge for the city of New Albany from 1976 to 1992. He practiced law in New Albany from 1961 to 2002 before beginning his tenure as chancellor for the First Chancery Court District. He was elected to his fourth term in 2014 and served until the date of his death.
Littlejohn is survived by his wife of 54 years, Julia Gray Littlejohn; his daughter, Lisa Gault (Phil) of Hartselle, Alabama; his daughter, Christy Adair (Avery) of New Albany; his son, Bradley Littlejohn (Morgan) also of New Albany; his six grandchildren, Phillip Gault, Justin Gault, Katie Allison Gault, Julianne Littlejohn, Gray Littlejohn and Ivy Littlejohn; one sister, Ivy Jean Weeden (John) of New Harmony; one aunt, Elaine Pannell of New Albany; and many nieces and nephews.
Littlejohn served faithfully as a member, deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church, New Albany. Funeral services will be held there on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Greg Spencer, the Rev. Tom Sumrall and the Rev. Paul Sizemore officiating. Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church today from 4 until 8 p.m. and before the funeral from 10 until 11 a.m. on Friday. Graveside services will be held at New Harmony Cemetery. United Funeral Service of New Albany is in charge of the arrangements.
Pallbearers are Dr. James Wilson Speck, James Wilson Speck II, Dr. Carl Weeden, Dr. Mike Weeden, Mark Weeden, Ken Weeden, Larry Kirk and Jason Byrd. Members of Judge Littlejohn's Sunday School class will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Memorial donations may be made to the music ministry of First Baptist Church, New Albany.
Leave online condolences at www.unitedfuneralservice.com.