Charles W. Merritt, Jr.
Read More About Charles Merritt
RESUME
Of
CHARLES W. MERRITT, JR
CERTIFICATIONS
- Mississippi Bar – May 1980
- U.S. District Court, N.D. Mississippi – May 1980
- Texas Bar – November 1980
- West Virginia Bar – April 1984
- U.S. District Court, S.D. WV – April 1984
- U.S. Tax Court – October 1985
- Georgia Bar – June 1987
- Georgia Supreme Court – November 1987
- Georgia Court of Appeals – November 1987
- U.S. District Court, N.D. Georgia – November 1987
- U.S. District Court, M.D. Georgia – December 1987
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
- Charles W. Merritt, Jr., Attorney-at-Law, Madison, Georgia
October 1987 to present. - Charles W. Merritt, Jr., Tax Consultant, Madison, Georgia.
October 1986 to September 1987. Specialized consulting in matters of federal income taxation for corporations and individuals. - Jackson, Kelly, Holt & O’Farrell, Charleston, West Virginia
Associate, January 1984 to September 1986. Member of Taxes, Trusts and Estates Department. Active practice in Federal income taxation including research and client representation in corporate and bank reorganizations, exempt organizations, corporate formations and tax planning, liquidations, corporate distributions and redemptions, consolidated returns, S corporations, tax compliance, audits and protests, employment taxes, Tax Court litigation, partnerships, gift tax and incentive stock options. - Stovall, Wilhite & Gilbreath, Inc. Houston, Texas.
Associate, June 1980 to September 1982. General practice in seven man law firm involving client representation in divorce, juvenile, adoption, wills, estate planning, criminal, contract, property, consumer protection, personal injury, and medical malpractice. - Charles Merritt Farms, Rena Lara, Mississippi.
Owner and Operator, 1977, of 900-acre commercial farm in production of cotton, soybeans and wheat. - Presley Farms & Gin Company, Alligator, Mississippi.
Assistant Manager, June 1974 to December 1976. Commercial farm and ginning company.
EDUCATION
- Emory University School of Law Atlanta, Georgia.
LL.M. in Taxation, December 1983. Class Rank – Top 5% - University of Mississippi School of Law, Oxford, Mississippi
J.D., May 1980 - University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
B.A., June 1974. Dean’s List 1974 - Virginia Episcopal School, Lynchburg, Virginia
June 1970. Class Rank: 8th of 64.
HONORS AND ACTIVITIES
- University of Mississippi: Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity
- University of Virginia: Dean’s List (1974); Madison Hall Volunteer; Phi Delta Theta fraternity; V-Club (varsity letterman in track and field); Sigma Delta Psi
- National Athletic fraternity; 1974 intramural decathlon champion; Charlottesville Youth League basketball coach; Member – overall UVA intramural championship team (1972, 1973, 1974); Charlottesville Junior Olympic official (2 years).
REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES
- Member – Real Estate Section, State Bar of Georgia
- Special Master – Morgan County Superior Court, condemnations, quiet title actions
AGENT/ATTORNEY
- Chicago Title Insurance Corporation
PERSONAL
- Past Director, Regions Bank (1988-2006)
- Past Member, Executive Loan Committee, Regions Bank
- Past Member, Marketing Committee, Regions Bank
- Past Member, Morgan County Hospital Authority (12 years)
- Past Chairman, Madison Downtown Development Authority
- Former County Attorney for Morgan County, Georgia (2002-2006)
- Member & Trustee, Madison Presbyterian Church
- City Court Judge, City of Madison, Georgia (1987 – Present)
- City Court Judges, City of Rutledge, Georgia
- Judge, Morgan County Probate Court (2013-present)
- City Attorney, City of Rutledge, Georgia (1987 – 1998, 2011- Present)
- Former City Attorney, City of Shady Dale, Georgia (1990 – 2006)
- Former City Attorney, Town of Buckhead, Georgia (1992-2006)
- Member, Madison-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce
- Member, Ocmulgee Bar Association
- Member, Morgan County Bar Association
- Member, Georgia Council of Municipal Court Judges
- Former Member, Executive Council of Municipal Judges Association (1996 – 2007)
- Past Director, Morgan County Indigent Defense Council
- Member, Morgan County Law Library Committee
- Member & Past President, Morgan County Lions Club
- Former Director, Steering Committee, Madison Downtown Business Council
REFERENCES
The Honorable Justice Hugh P. Thompson
Georgia Supreme Court
State Judicial Building
40 Mitchell Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
The Honorable Brenda Trammell
Superior Court Judge
228 North Main Street
P. O. Box 663
Madison, Georgia 30650
City of Madison Councilman Joe Dieltto
132 North Main Street
P. O. Box 32
Madison, Georgia 30650
Mayor Fred Perriman
City of Madison
P.O. Box 32
Madison, GA 30650
Esther B. Curry
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Esther Curry began her real estate career with Charles Merritt in 1995. Since then, she has been a steady and constant presence for the firm for 25 years. Esther’s vast knowledge of real estate and title insurance, ensure our clients receive the highest level of service. A lifelong resident of Morgan County, Esther obtained her Bachelors’ of Art in History from North Georgia College and an associates degree in Paralegal Science from Athens Area Technical Institute.
She is the President of the Fairview Friendship Club, Founding Member, Active Board Member and Secretary of the Godfrey Community Park, former Women’s Missionary Union Representative to Morgan County Baptist Association, and a former member of the Executive Committee of the Morgan County Baptist Association.
Esther is married to Tim Curry. She and Tim live on her family land where she enjoys gardening, cooking, and their dog, Elle. She is a member of the Antioch Baptist Church in the Godfrey community where she serves as Treasurer.
Rae C. Merritt
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Rae, a third-generation Madisonian, joined The Merritt Law Firm in 2005 as our Office Manager and Bookkeeper. After completing her education, she was employed by Bank of Madison in 1970 and later by Pennington Seed, Inc. as an accountant. She served Pennington for more than 28 years.
Rae is best known for her amazing cooking skills and enjoyed owning a catering company, Gourmet By Rae.
Rae is an active member and Ordained Elder in the Madison Presbyterian Church where she sings in the choir, present board member of Madison Heritage Hall and former board member of the Morgan County Library.
Rae not only enjoys cooking, but also singing, playing the piano, sewing and gardening. She is the host to The Merritt Law Firm’s annual Pie Day, where our friends and clients enjoy a day of various cakes, pies and desserts!
Rae is an avid animal lover and is a dog mom to Ben and Bunny, two miniature dachshunds, our office mascots and security team.
Cathy Peters
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The Merritt Law Firm welcomed Cathy Peters in February of 2019. Cathy is often the first person you will see or talk to when working with the firm as her warm smile welcomes you in. A Morgan County native, Cathy has spent most of her career in administrative roles. She worked for companies such as CompuServe, BioLab and Lithonia Lighting. She spent the last nine years at a local orthodontist’s office before joining The Merrit Law Firm. Her strong organizational skills and knowledge of different operating systems, make her a perfect fit in supporting our staff and clients.
Cathy has three daughters and four grandchildren who also keep her busy. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and has a huge love for the outdoors.
Beth Pearson
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An Auburn University graduate, Beth moved to Madison in 2002 and began her career with The Merritt Law Firm. She was a paralegal for the firm until 2005 when she went to work for United Bank. While at United, Beth had many roles. She spent twelve years at United Bank as a mortgage loan originator and loan officer for consumer and commercial loans, as well as Branch Operations Coordinator, Business Banking Executive for the Madison and Covington markets, and Assistant Vice President.
Beth is a former member of the Madison Kiwanis Club, Madison Women’s Club and Chamber of Commerce. She has served on various committees with the City of Madison Main Street Advisory Board, Madison-Morgan Cultural Center and Madison Baptist Church.
In 2017, Beth returned to The Merritt Law Firm. She uses her banking and mortgage knowledge to assist clients through the closing process. Having processed loans, she is aware of the needs and questions clients have when purchasing or refinancing a home.
Beth’s most important tile is mom. She is married to Walt Pearson and together they have two boys, Robert and Ben. She enjoys watching her boys play sports, cooking their favorite meals and volunteering at her church, where she serves as the Director of Children’s Ministries.
Bonnie C. Duvall
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Not many clients who come through our doors, don’t know Bonnie Duvall. A lifelong resident of Morgan County, Bonnie is a friend to all. She joined our team in March 2016 and assists in our real estate and accounting areas. Bonnie retired in June 2014 from SunTrust Bank, formerly known as First National Bank, with 38 years of banking experience and service. While at SunTrust Bonnie was responsible for bookkeeping and customer service, branch and deposit operations and support of retail branch networks in the North Georgia and North Florida regional areas.
Bonnie is also active in her church, Fort Chapel United Methodist Church.
Bonnie is married to Billy Duvall and together they have two sons, John and Will, and several grandchildren. Bonnie is our resident master gardener and loves the outdoors and her dogs.
Sheron Vance
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Christy Campbell
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