Colleagues, friends recall local attorney’s integrity and faith
Throughout his half-century as a local attorney, Jerry Allen Rochelle’s quick wit and sense of humor never failed him, his friends and colleagues said.
Rochelle, who died last week, grew up in Texarkana, Texas, and graduated Texas High 50 years ago. The people who knew him said he loved life.
“When I think of Jerry, I think of two things about him,” said Texarkana Attorney Gary Nutter, now in his 47th year of law practice. “I think of Jerry’s integrity and his versatility. Jerry was a pure joy to work with and to be around. He has a great sense of humor, which allowed him to work with serious issues and at the same time keep that sense of humor alive and well.”
Nutter added that apart from law practice, Rochelle proved to be a great Sunday school teacher during his eight years of membership at First United Methodist Church in Texarkana, Ark.
“Jerry was a teacher for our Sunday school class,” Nutter said. “Not only was he an outstanding teacher, but he lived his life that way, too.”
John Stroud, another longtime Texarkana attorney, agreed.
“Jerry was both an excellent lawyer and an excellent person,” Stroud said. “He will be missed tremendously.”
Lynne Vammen, a longtime member of First UMC, said Jerry and his wife joined the church around 2010.
“Just seeing them both here, every Sunday, for the last eight years, was a testimony and a sermon unto itself, because they both lived their lives for the Lord,” she said.