Curtis Person Jr., longtime lawmaker and judge, dies at 85
Curtis S. Person Jr., who served in the Tennessee General Assembly for 40 years and as a Shelby County juvenile judge for eight years, has died. He was 85.
Person served Shelby County as a state representative from 1966 to 1968, before switching from Democrat to Republican and winning a state senate seat in 1968. He remained in the senate until 2006.
His tenure distinguished him as having the longest uninterrupted term in the Tennessee legislature — one which included Person passing a law that required newborns to receive the PKU test. PKU, or phenylketonuria, is a condition that makes it difficult for the body to break down proteins, but can be managed and treated if detected at birth.
In 2006, at age 72, Person was elected as Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge and served until 2014.
State Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-memphis, who was elected to the General Assembly in 2007 just as Person was leaving, said he had worked with Person previously through the organization, Dads Against Discrimination, to create more equitable rights for noncustodial parents.
“Back then, there were a lot of roadblocks to men participating in their children’s lives, but he knew how important it was for children to know their natural parents, especially if they were responsible parents,” Hardaway said.
Person, he said, was instrumental in reforming the system to be more fair in dealing with both parents — including a law that strips gender as the main determinant as to who gets primary custody of children.
“He was impactful, as both a judge and a legislator,” Hardaway said. “He was conservative, and we disagreed on a lot of issues, but the one thing we did agree on was that children needed access to, and had an inherent right to know, both parents.”
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, who once served with Person in the state Senate, also described person as a “fair and friendly colleague.”
“He was well-liked by all, members and staff alike, for his smile and cheerful disposition,” Cohen said via e-mail.
“We worked together on many issues. He paid particular attention to the University of Memphis and to all Memphis institutions, and was a strong advocate for children and for pets. His was a life well-lived, and he will be missed.”
Person held a bachelor’s degree from the University of Memphis, and a bachelor of laws degree from the University of Mississippi. He also served in several local leadership positions. He is survived by a sister, five children and stepchildren, 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.