Beth Stricklin Bates
Tennessee Certified Specialist in Social Security Disability

Congratulations to Beth Stricklin Bates for becoming a certified specialist in Social Security Disability.  Beth Stricklin Bates has worked as an attorney for West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc. for almost 19 years. She is certified as a Social Security Disability Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization. She has represented hundreds of individuals in Social Security cases. She is a member of the TN Lawyer's Association for Women and past president and secretary of LAW Ann Schneider chapter. She is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and its Disability Law section as well as the ABA. She has previously chaired the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services' Benefits Taskforce and has presented Continuing Legal Education talks on Social Security and Welfare Issues. She manages her agency's Food Stamp Outreach Project and advocates for children in state custody in Tennessee medical services appeals. She was certified in 2006. She received an "E" award from the Tennessee Economic Council for Women on December 3, 2004 for her work on behalf of economic equity for women. She is past state and local president of Business and Professional Women (BPW). She has served three times on the Board of Directors of the National Organization; BPW/USA, once as state president, (2000-2001); once as Legislation Chair (2003-2004), and once as Bylaws Chair (2005-2006). She is currently serving on the BPW/USA Issues Management committee. She is a BPW Individual Development Trainer. She was Jackson BPW's Woman of Achievement in 2002.

WTLS Welcomes Louisiana to the MidSouth Housing Counseling Project

WTLS is proud to announce that all four of the Louisiana Legal Services Programs – Acadiana Legal Services, Capital Area Legal Services, Legal Services of North Louisiana and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services - have joined with 20 other legal services programs to provide Comprehensive Housing Counseling in 9 Southeastern states.  MidSouth while providing services statewide focuses on rural communities and the Lower Mississippi Delta.   Housing counseling provides counseling and advocacy over the full range of housing issues – if you can think of it and it relates to housing – it’s covered.

We, at WTLS are especially looking forward to working with our Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama Partners as they work on Katrina issues.

For more information contact Emma@wtls.org

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Intern

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program of West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc., works with Freed-Hardeman University to provide training for Social Work students. 

Candace Corley (Featured on Bottom of Photo) worked with Amanda Scott (Featured on Top of Photo) in the Long-Term Care Program for senior internship for social work.  The Long-Term Care Ombudsman program is an advocacy program for those in long-term care facilities.  This program relies heavily on volunteers to make the program a success. 

Candice was required to volunteer 400 hours to complete her degree in Social Work at Freed-Hardeman.  In return for her service, she was able to gain useful experience in the field of Social Work. 

If you are interested in volunteering for the Ombudsman Program, email:  Amanda@wtls.org or visit our Long-Term Care Page of our website.

Celebrating 25 Years of Service

Congratulations to four very special employees of West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc.  They have 100 years of combined experience serving the needs of the West Tennessee area.  Pictured left to right back row, Executive Director J. Steven Xanthopoulos, Managing Attorney, Jane Jarvis, Paralegal, Mabel Teamer, and Executive Assistant, Barbara Bean.

Reflections of Our Friend

On Friday, July 20, 2007, West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc. lost a true friend who lit the office with her smile.  Sue Milligan joined the WTLS staff on September 23, 2002.  She began working with the Housing Department and provided much needed data entry assistance.  After a while, she was promoted to a Case Manager with our Ryan White Project. 

Sue was always providing her clients with the best possible representation that she could.  She was a woman who made a career of helping others.  Whether assisting her clients or bringing us goodies from her garden, she always knew exactly what assistance to give. After notifying me of computer problems and working to restore network communications to the Dyersburg office, Sue, not feeling well, made what would be her last entries in our case management system on July 17, 2007, at 2:27 p.m.  Those entries were notes of her providing clients with gas vouchers so that they would have the provisions that they needed to meet their everyday needs.  I really do not believe that you could have ever met a more interesting, caring, and extraordinary person. 

A few years ago, we were all saddened to learn that she had been diagnosed with cancer.  While this diagnosis would have proved disheartening to some, Sue was optimistic and would never allow us to worry about her for one minute.  She went through chemotherapy with such grace. While cancer may have won the fight, she will always be a winner in our hearts.  I am sure that there are many memories that the staff could tell of how she made their day, but none could be quite as vivid as the show she gave us at the 2006 Equal Justice Conference at Montgomery Bell State Park. 

While she will be greatly missed, we are all glad that we were privileged to have her be apart of our lives for a season.

Respectfully Submitted,

Kathryn Avent