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Longtime Springfield attorney dies at 84

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Jerry Redfern, who spent much of his life at the law firm of Neale & Newman LLP, died June 3. He was 84.

Redfern's obituary posted online by Greenlawn Funeral Home indicates he had cancer.

Redfern joined Neale & Newman in 1962 and became a partner in 1967. He's listed as of counsel on the law firm's website.

A general practice and civil litigation attorney, Redfern received the Tom Cochran Community Service Award from the Missouri Bar and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Drury University in 2007, as well as the Distinguished Attorney Award from the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association in 2000. He was an honoree in Springfield Business Journal's inaugural class of Men of the Year in 2011.

Redfern also earned an Equal Access to Justice Award from Legal Aid of Southwest Missouri in 1994 and the Missouri Bar’s Pro Bono Publico Award in 1995, for his work on behalf of underprivileged individuals in need of legal representation.

"The simple notes I received from clients and others during the years have been more important to me,” he said in his 2011 SBJ profile.

Jeanette Alcorn, who worked as Redfern’s paralegal for 32 years, today said Redfern still visited the building as much as a few days a week up until the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily closed the office. She said he officially retired around three years ago but maintained his of counsel role.

“He was the nicest guy. He just had a very, very kind and loving heart and he just wanted to help everybody,” Alcorn said.

Beyond his legal work, Redfern managed charitable foundations: the Musgrave Foundation, Roy W. Slusher Foundation and the Heuer Foundation.

A visitation observing COVID-19 precautions is scheduled 5:30 p.m. June 11 at Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 3540 E. Seminole St., according to his obituary. Private funeral services are slated to be held at Stone Chapel on the campus of Drury.

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