ABOUT JOCIE

Memphis' First Professional Mediator

Read an article about me from Rhodes College “Energized by Issues”

Video of Jocie on a Panel of alumni at Rhodes College

Bar Admissions (retired from law as of 2005):

Tennessee, 1980 
U.S. Federal Court, 1981 
U.S. Supreme Court, 1989 

Education:

Over 600 hours of Mediation Training

University of Memphis  Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Memphis, TN , 1979, J.D.

Rhodes College, Memphis, TN , 1965, B.A. Sociology/Anthropology

Central High School, Memphis 1958

Positions:

Solo Mediation Practitioner 1984- to present

Solo Law Practitioner, 1982 – 2005
Williams, Benham & McDaniel, Associate, 1981 - 1982

Honors:

Planned Parenthood -Judy Scharff Award for the Panel of American Women 2017

NAACP Life time Achievement 2017

Tennessee Human Rights Commission established the Jocelyn Dan Wurzburg Civil Rights Award

Woman's Foundation of Greater Memphis Legacy Award

YWCA Leadership Award

Shelby County Diversity Award. 2008

Women of Achievement, 1990, for Courage

National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1981, Community Service

Fifty Women Who Make a Difference, 1st Class, 1997 Women’s News of Memphis


Past / Present Appointments:

2007 - 2013 
Tennessee Gov Bredesen has appointed me to the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, our state’s anti-discrimination commission to help enforce the law I drafted in 1972, Tennessee's first lanti-discrimination law for employment, public accommodations and housing.

1996 – Present 
Tennessee Family Law Code Revision Commission,
Appointed by Tenn Bar Association

1976 - 1977 
U.S. Commission for the Observance of International Women's Year, Appointed by President  Gerald Ford

1972 - 2000
U. S. Commission on Civil Rights, , State Advisory Committee Chair  
Appointed originally by the Hon. Arthur Fleming

1976 - 1977 
Minority Business Resource Center of The Federal Railroad Admin.
Appointed by Secretary William Coleman

1969 - 1975
TN Commission for Human Rights, 
Appointed by Gov. W. Dunn,

Union of American Hebrew Congregations: Chair of the Changing Jewish Family Comm.  
Appointed by President Eric Yoffe

1976-2002
Union of American Hebrew Congregations: Commission on Social Action,
Appointed by President Alex Schindler

Commission on Arson of Churches 
Appointed by Gov. Don Sundquist

Beale Street Historic Foundation and the Police/Community Relations Committee 
Appointed by Mayor Wyeth Chandler 

Family Law Code Revision Commission (rewriting all Tennessee Family Law) 
Appointed by the Tennessee Bar Association 

Present  / Past Affiliations: 

(Professional Association listed under Services)

Founder,  Mediation Association of Tennessee

Memphis Bar Association, 1981-present 

Chair, Section of Family Law, 1995 - 1996   & ADR Committee

Founder,  Panel of American Women, Memphis Chapter  1968 - 1978

Founder, Jazz Society of Memphis

Various women and human rights organizations : NAACP, NOW, AARP, Women’s Political Caucus, NARAL, LWV, ACLU, Concord Coalition, Common Cause.   (e-mail for a full list of associations) 

Representative Clients:

Shelby County Government

United States Postal Service

E.E.O.C. Panel

Dept. of Justice, ADA claims (Key Bridge Foundation)


Classes / Seminars Taught:

Mediation,

Various Bar Associations for CLE

Basic 40 hour course in Mediation

Student Peer Mediation Training - All Shelby County High Schools


Personal

Born 1940 and reared in Memphis, Tn

Three children, two grandchildren

Divorced

Beginner Banjo frailer and guitar picker – but I play a competent stereo!