James Charles McMichael Jr.

James Charles McMichael, Jr. (72) of Shreveport, La., passed away peacefully on August 2, 2024. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, August 16, 2024, at St. Mark's Cathedral in Shreveport, with a reception to follow in the church parlor.
Jim was a loving father to his three daughters and a devoted husband to his wife Sharla. His legacy will be remembered in the stories he told, the perfectly delivered punchlines, and the love he shared with those closest to him. Jim was happiest on the golf course, in the river with a fly rod in his hand, drinking a Maker's Mark and water after hitting his limit in a duck blind, or cooking a meal for loved ones. Other hobbies included giving grandchildren popsicles before they ate their dinner, reminding his daughters not to take s*** from anyone, and reading Dan Jenkins or watching Rumpole of the Bailey (again).
Jim lived a life marked by an unwavering commitment to justice. As an outstanding attorney, he was known for his sharp intellect, relentless pursuit of fairness, and his profound effectiveness in the courtroom. His colleagues and clients admired his dedication to his profession, especially to helping develop aspiring trial attorneys, and his ability to make complex legal matters accessible and understandable. He began his career in the DA's office, where he was "almost undefeated." Impressive, but it was his 40-year career in civil litigation that solidified his reputation as an honest, formidable, and gifted attorney. Jim was an artist in the courtroom and loved nothing more than leading a witness into a trap on cross-examination. They never saw it coming.
He served as President of the Shreveport Bar Association and was a two-time Captain of the Krewe of Justinian. He was a proud recipient of the Shreveport Bar Association Professionalism Award, given annually to one attorney whose practice and personal conduct exemplify the highest level of integrity, dedication, and honor in the practice of law. Jim was a Founding Fellow of the Shreveport Bar Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to education and access to the practice of law in Northwest Louisiana. He was proud to be part of the Shreveport-Bossier legal community.
Jim accomplished so much in his professional career, but more than any of that, he was a person who deeply valued the relationships he built throughout his life. He truly cherished his friends, and he had so many, who brought him laughter, outrageous memories, and comfort in the last few years of his life. There was no better storyteller than Jim McMichael, and his pride in his friendships was evident in the warm smile on his face when he would skillfully share an anecdote.
Jim is survived by his wife, Sharla Inman McMichael; his daughter, Lee McMichael Fischer, and her husband, Raymond, daughter, Nancy Jane Karam, and her husband, David, and daughter, Maggie McMichael Herndon, and her husband, Myles. His grandchildren, Fahy Karam, Oliver Herndon, Sally Herndon, Abigail Fischer, Mary Collins Karam, and Alice Fischer, who brought him so much joy. He is also survived by his niece, Emily Bennett, her husband, Derek, and their daughter, Elly, his stepchildren, John, Ross, and Spencer Inman and their families, and the many friends who were part of Jim's chosen family.
He was predeceased by his parents Jimmy and Nancy McMichael, his brother John McMichael, and his nephew, James McMichael.
Honorary pallbearers will be Claude Bookter, Walter Clawson, John Cox, Jeff Creel, Scott Crichton, John D'Anna, Joe Fertitta, John Frazier, Billy Guin, Keith Jones, Deryl Medlin, and Gray Teekell.
The family would like to extend gratitude to the caregivers who were so dedicated to his care; thank you to Dr. Victoria Everton, Dr. Scott McRight, Dr. Randy White, and to the nursing staff in the ICU and step-down units at Willis Knighton Pierremont.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Shreveport Bar Foundation to honor Jim's belief in providing access to legal counsel to all who need it, regardless of ability to pay.