by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
It was the second year the relatively unknown talents of the Jacksonville legal community were on display at the Moran Theatre in the Times-Union Center, but this year the show gained an identity in an effort to honor a departed member of that community.
The Jacksonville Bar Association (JBA) and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) created the “There Oughta be a Law” lawyer variety show last year as a fundraiser for JALA, but both organizations couldn’t think of a better way to honor the late Circuit Court Judge Peter Fryefield than by naming the show after him. His passion for the guitar and bluegrass music was well known throughout the legal community and his friends and family played a part in the first “The Honorable Peter J. Fryefield Law Revue” Thursday. His wife, Barbara Holmes Fryefield, contributed paintings to the visual arts display, his brother Rick sang a song and friends Allen Shad and Hank Wright entertained the crowd of about 400 people with the guitar playing that Fryefield loved.
“We had an empty chair placed between us because that’s where Peter would be if he was here tonight,” said Shad. “Picking away right along side us.”
The show grew from 15 acts in 2008 to 25 acts this year. The talents on display included singing, dancing, acting and musical performances. The visual arts display featured contributions from 17 members of the legal community.
Attorney Patricia Dodson was the musical director. Attorneys Rose Marie Preddy and Christa Figgins produced the performance. Attorney Deborah Reid was the visual arts director.
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