Attorney Clarence Whitaker retires after 44 years

Vicksburg attorney Clarence Whitaker is retiring after serving the community for 44 years.

After 44 years Vicksburg Attorney Clarence Whitaker is retiring to spend more time with his wife of 42 years, Betty.

A sharp-witted Whitaker quipped that his plans were “To stay alive as long as I can!”

First Law Class at Mississippi College

“I went to Mississippi College and was in the first class, we enrolled in 1975 and graduated in 1978,” said Whitaker. “I’ve done mostly criminal law, by and large.”

Whitaker recalled some of his cases and said, “The biggest case I ever had was the Domino Pizza murder case in 1987. These three guys kidnapped the Dominoes Pizza man, stole his money and ate his pizza. I represented one of them. Travis Vance represented one, he got the death penalty and was executed. The second one got life in the penitentiary and I represented mine down in Natchez and I got him acquitted!”

“He was just a young kid and was along for the ride. Paul Barrett got up and testified for him, so that’s pretty good,” said Whitaker.

A consummate storyteller, Whitaker revealed a bit of life as a lawyer in the 80s. Regarding the Dominoes case and Sheriff Barrett, he said, “The night before we were down in Natchez and we all got drunk! Had a hangover on the last day of the trial. John Ellis was the judge and he wouldn’t let us put the liquor we drank on our expense account. He made us take that off. We had a good time sometimes.”

“For the last several years all I’ve done is criminal law with the Justice Court. Those judges would appoint me on occasion and I’d go over there and try ’em over there,” explained Whitaker with his southern drawl and practiced cadence.

“That’s a pretty good photo!” said attorney Clarence Whitaker. Photo by David Day

District Attorney Ricky Smith offers high praise

“Clarence has been one of the bedrock attorneys here in Warren County ever since I’ve been practicing. He’s always been a very good attorney and I learned a lot from him when I first started. He was doing a lot of criminal legal work when I first started and began my career in criminal defense. He is always pleasant to be around and pleasant to talk to with a great sense of humor and he can really make you laugh. He was one of the attorneys I looked up to when I got started. He was really helpful to younger attorneys like me that wanted to get started in criminal law,” said Warren County District Attorney, Ricky Smith.