Claudia Jean Spence Jack

Claudia Spence Jack, 75, of Columbia, Tennessee died peacefully on Friday, November 9, 2018, surrounded by her family. She was born on March 13, 1943, to Edna Frances Bell and Claude Pierce Spence. She married Billy Coleman Jack in Columbia on November 4, 1967. She graduated from Auburn University in 1965 with a bachelor of science degree in English education, then earned her masters of education from Auburn the following year. She began her career in education as an eighth-grade teacher at Auburn Junior High School in Auburn, Alabama, before moving to Columbia, Tennessee, in 1966 to serve as the inaugural faculty member of the English Department of Tennessee’s first community college. She served on the faculty until 1969. At the age of 37, she was accepted to and attended Vanderbilt University Law School, graduating in 1983. She served as an associate editor of Vanderbilt Law Review and was a member of the Moot Court Board and Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. She then clerked for Tennessee Supreme Court Justice William J. Harbison before practicing in the Law Offices of Billy C. Jack as an associate. She served as assistant district attorney for Tennessee in the child support and welfare fraud division and then became a named partner at Jack and Jack from 1986 to 1998. In 1998, she was elected as District Public Defender for the 22nd Judicial District, serving Giles, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne counties, a position she was re-elected to three times and served in at the time of her death. She was admitted to practice to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; the U.S. Middle District Court; the United States Tax Court; and the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Through her career, she was referred to as both a legend and a giant. She garnered local, statewide and national respect because of her commitment to the practice of law, her advocacy for her clients while in the office of public defender, and her encouragement of the next generation of attorneys through her support of high school and college students. During her lifetime, Claudia was involved in a multitude of professional, civic and social organizations and endeavors, contributing to each her passion, commitment to excellence, and her wisdom and determination to constantly and consistently serve her community. She served in both Leadership Maury and Tennessee Leadership (1991). She was an extremely committed member of Kiwanis, both the Maury County Kiwanis Club and Columbia Kiwanis Club and served as an officer in both organizations at the local and state levels. She was a member and officer in Columbia Business and Professional Women’s Club since 1988. She served in a number of organizations dedicated to improving the experiences of children, including the Maury County Just Say No Community Prevention Network, the Maury County Public Library, the James K. Polk Memorial Auxiliary, an organization dedicated to the support and maintenance of the President James K. Polk ancestral home; and the Guided Circle of King’s Daughters. A woman of Immense faith, she was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church for nearly four decades, where she humbly served on the Altar Guild and the Wedding Guild. She was also a member of the Daughters of the King. Her other civic and professional memberships included Volunteer Garden Club, Tennessee Botanical Gardens and Fine Arts Center, Tennessee State Museum, Maury County Creative Arts Guild, Cumberland Museum and Science Center, American Association of University Professors, American Association of University Women, Auburn Alumni Association, Vanderbilt Law School Alumni Association, Tennessee Women’s Political Caucus, and Maury County Democrats. She tirelessly raised funds for the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Maury County Hospital Pediatric Ward at Maury County Hospital, the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, and the Maury County Heart Association. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she was an incredible wife, mother, friend and grandmother. She had an unparalleled sense of wonder and magic that her family and friends were fortunate to experience. She delighted in placing 2 am telephone calls to loved ones so they wouldn’t miss a spectacular a meteor shower. She convinced both her children and grandchildren that toadstool rings were absolute evidence that fairies had been dancing recently. She was an amazing cook and host who always offered her home up to ensure people were happy, loved and well fed. She is survived by her children Robert Jack of Nashville, Laura Jack of Danville, Kentucky, and Edward Jack of Point Washington, Florida, her daughter-in-law Whitney Weeks of Nashville and her son-in-law Jeb Burch of Danville, Kentucky. She is survived by her grandchildren Charlie Hall of Danville, Kentucky, and William, Jane and Frances Jack of Nashville. She is also survived by her brother (Retired) Lt. Col. David Spence and sister-in-law Juli Spence of Montgomery, Alabama. She was preceded in death by Billy Jack, her husband of 37 years. A celebration of Claudia’s life will be held on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 from 4:00 to 6:00 in the parish hall at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Columbia, TN. The family will have a private service and burial later in the week. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Peters Episcopal Church in Columbia, 311 West Seventh Street, Columbia, TN 38401 or St John’s Churchyard in Ashwood, TN, 1116 West Seventh Street, PMB75, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. The family also wishes to offer special thanks to the staff at NHC Maury Regional TCC in Columbia and the staff at Richland Place and Alive Hospice in Nashville.