Richard Denmar Bird

Richard Denmar Bird

Nashville - Richard Denmar Bird, 86, a prominent Nashville attorney for almost 60 years, died June 30, 2020, with his wife and children at his bedside.

A resident of Nashville since attending Vanderbilt University in 1950, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in 1954, and received his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 1959. He received his license to practice law in March of that year and was later accepted into the American Bar Association and elected as a Fellow in the Tennessee Bar Foundation. He was a partner at Gracey, Madden, Cowan, and Bird until 1987, during which time he served twice as President of the Nashville Bar Association. In 1987, he joined Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz where he practiced until his retirement in 2016. One of his law partners said at his retirement "Richard made all his friends clients, and his clients friends." That speaks so much about the man he was.

His college days were highlighted by his exceptional camaraderie with his Sigma Chi Fraternity brothers. After college, they remained in touch, traveled together, and still shared lunch every month.

Richard was born August 13, 1933, to Julius Broyles (JB) and Hattie Mae Bird in Bristol, Virginia, and grew up in Bristol, Tennessee. He is survived by his wife Cherry; children, Richard Bird Jr. (William Taylor) and Sally Einstman (Neil); stepchildren Keith Grisham (Brooke) and Ashley Barbeau (Sean); and his grandchildren Andrew and Palmer Einstman and Ainsley and Jack Barbeau. He was predeceased by his parents and his first wife Celia Fite Bird.

A celebration of Richard's life will be held on August 13, 2020 - his 87th birthday - from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home at 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, Tenn. Memories and prayers will be offered at 6:00 p.m.