Charlie B. Sexton
Charles Bruce “Charlie” Sexton (March 26, 1938 – Dec. 2, 2020) was a prominent Oneida attorney who served as the General Sessions Court Judge of Scott County for 16 years in the 1970s and 1980s.
Biography
Born March 26, 1938, Charlie Sexton was the son of Manford Sexton (1899-1976) and Wilda Baker (1901-1990). He was one of 13 children. His siblings included Roy Denver Sexton, Manford Sexton Jr., Tommy Burton Sexton Sr., Theora York, Louise Reed, Edwina Greenwood, Donald Sexton, Landon Sexton, Wanda Jones, Fayrene Terry, Annette Mouat and Judy Hutchins.
Sexton’s father, Manford Etchel Sexton Sr., was a World War I veteran and a schoolteacher who served as Scott County Circuit Court Clerk after being elected in 1926. His paternal grandfather, Caswell Sexton, was killed in a mine explosion on Christmas Day in 1919, at age 52.
Sexton was a noted basketball player and Bible teacher at First Baptist Church of Oneida and later at New Haven Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the U.S. Army.
Sexton married Patricia Sue “Pat” Miller (1940-2003), who was a career educator in the Scott County School System. They had three children: Pamela Sexton, Charles Patrick Sexton, and Amy Jayne Leach.
Professional Life
Sexton was an attorney for 55 years, and founded the Oneida law firm Sexton, Sexton & Leach. He practiced law with both his son, Patrick Sexton, and his son-in-law, Gregory Leach. They specialized in social security disability, family law and personal injury cases, as well as criminal defense.
Sexton was elected Scott County General Sessions Court Judge in 1974 and re-elected in 1982. He served a total of 16 years in that capacity before losing a re-election bid to James L. “Jamie” Cotton Jr. in 1990.
Death
Sexton died on Dec. 2, 2020 at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, of Covid-19. His wife, Pat, had died in 2003. He was buried beside her at Sexton Family Cemetery in Helenwood after a funeral service on Dec. 5, 2020 with Rev. Philip Kazee and Rev. James Roberts officiating.