Max Cleveland Pope

Max Cleveland Pope died on the 13th day of May, 2010.
He was born on Dec. 9, 1932, in Evergreen. He was the son of Dealie Lafayette Pope and Bernice Tartt Pope. After graduating from the schools of Evergreen, he attended Auburn University on a football scholarship. He was inducted into the United States Army during the Korean War. Upon his discharge from military service, he enrolled at the University of Alabama and received a bachelor of science degree. While attending the University of Alabama, he was the business manager of the Crimson White and was elected president of the Student Government Association. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta social fraternity and was elected to membership in Omicron Delta Kappa and Jasons honoraries. While at the university, he met and married the love of his life, Julia McWhorter Pope. He then attended the University of Alabama School of Law, where he was a member of the Alabama Law Review.
After graduating law school, he served as law clerk to U.S. District Judge Clarence W. Allgood. After his clerkship, he began the practice of law in Birmingham. He intended to stay in Birmingham only one year, but he never left. He was a member of the Alabama State Bar, the Birmingham Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He served four years as a member of the grievance committee for the Alabama State Bar, including one year as chairman. He was a member of the Board of Bar Examiners, Alabama Law Foundation and the Atticus Finch Society. He was elected to two terms as the Alabama delegate to the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association. He had a general law practice and served for several years as a Chapter 7 Trustee in bankruptcy. The highlight of his legal career came when, as a young lawyer, he successfully argued a case before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Max believed that all people, but especially lawyers, should be actively involved in the political body of government. Following that conviction, he served as president of the Young Democrats of Alabama and was actively involved in campaigns for those candidates who advocated moderation on the issue of race. As part of his efforts to bring the Alabama Democratic Party into the political mainstream, he actively participated in defeating Governor George C. Wallace's efforts to seize control of the State of Alabama Democratic Executive Committee for use in his presidential campaign.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Dealie Wayne Pope; and his parents, Bernice Tartt Pope and Dealie Lafayette Pope.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Julia McWhorter Pope; two sons, Max Cleveland Pope Jr. (Linda) and Lee McWhorter Pope (Fontaine); and his beloved granddaughters, Mary Dealie and Julia Bell Pope and Margaret Munger McCall and Caroline Lee Pope, all of Birmingham. He is also survived by his sister, Faye Pope Smith (Wayne), Evergreen; and his sister-in-law, Charmian Deuel Pope, Castleberry, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his family, he is survived by a host of friends ranging from his high school years in Evergreen to his years at the University of Alabama to his more than 40 years of the practice of law; he will be greatly missed by them all.
A memorial service will be held at Canterbury United Methodist Church on Monday, May 17, 2010, at 2 p.m. Ridout's Valley Chapel, Homewood, directing. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. Memorials may be made to the UAB Department of Neurology (Parkinson's Disease Research), c/o Thomas Brannan, 1720 7th Ave. S., Birmingham, AL 35294, or Canterbury United Methodist Church, 350 Overbrook Road, Mountain Brook, AL 35213.