About
Us: Associates
Michael S. Carr
Personal: Michael Carr was born in Memphis, Tennessee, August 28, 1981. A 1999 graduate of
Cleveland High School, Mike earned a B.A. in History and Spanish from Ole Miss and graduated
magna cum laude in May 2003. While an undergraduate, Mike was a member of numerous
honor societies including Phi Kappa Phi, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Alpha
Theta History Honor Society, Capitulo Delta Iota Spanish Honors Society, Golden Key, and
Order of Omega. Mike was also a re-chartering member of the Alpha Upsilon chapter of Kappa
Alpha Order and held several officer positions. In 2001, Mike traveled to Bejing, China on a
grant through the Croft Center for International Studies to research ongoing developments in
privatization. In 2002, Mike went to live with a local family in Valencia, Spain for a semester to
fulfill his requirements for his Spanish major.
Mike entered the University of Mississippi School of Law in May 2003. During law
school, Mike completed summer law programs at Downing College, Cambridge, as well as a
Law at Sea Seminar through the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, traveling extensively
through northern Europe and Russia. Mike is past president of the Gorove International Law
Society and was a member of several Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court
Competition teams from Ole Miss. Mike also worked for Thompson-West Corporation,
Professional Multistate Bar Review, as well as clerked for Griffith & Griffith. He graduated in
two and a half years and has moved back to his hometown of Cleveland to begin practice.
Profile:
- Admitted to bar, 2006, Mississippi
- Education: University of
Mississippi, B.A. History/Spanish; University of Mississippi School
of Law, Juris Doctor, 2005
- Member: Bolivar County Bar Association, American Bar Association (Section on State
and Local Government Law, Young Lawyers Division), Fifth Circuit Bar Association,
and Mississippi Bar Association (Government Law Section, Litigation and General Law
Section); Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association; American Inns of Court; Bolivar
County Law Library Committee
-
Appointed to Criminal Justice Act Panel, Northern District of Mississippi, 2008
Sayward Ely Fortner
Personal: Sayward Ely Fortner was born in Cleveland, Mississippi, June 24, 1982. A 2000 graduate of
Memphis Catholic High School, Sayward earned her B.A. in English and a minor in History from
Delta State University. While at Delta State Sayward was active in the Student Government
Association and in her Senior year served as Student Body President. Sayward was also a
member of multiple honor societies including Omicron Delta Kappa, Lambda Iota Tau, Phi
Alpha Theta and Order of Omega. Additionally, Sayward was an Orientation Leader and active
in Reformed University Fellowship. While an undergraduate Sayward was active in Phi Mu
Fraternity and served as Vice President of her Chapter. She remains active in the North Delta Phi
Mu Alumni Group and continues to serve as Chapter Development Advisor to the Kappa Epsilon
Chapter. Following her graduation from Delta State in May of 2004 Sayward married Jonathan
Fortner, of Sumner, Mississippi, on June 26, 2004.
Sayward entered the University of Mississippi School of Law in May of 2004. While in law
school, Sayward was a member of Phi Delta Pi legal fraternity, the Chancellor?s honor roll and
the Dean?s honor roll. She was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Civil
Procedure II as well as the William M. Champion Scholarship. During her second year of law
school on March 20, 2006 Sayward and Jonathan were blessed with the birth of their son Holt
David Fortner. While at Ole Miss, Sayward had the privilege of clerking for Phelps Dunbar in
Tupelo, Mississippi, as well as participating as a Prosecution Intern with the United States
Attorney?s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi in Oxford. Sayward received her Juris
Doctor from the University of Mississippi in May 2007, where she graduated magna cum laude
and in the top fifteen percent of her class. Sayward is a member of Covenant Presbyterian
Church in Cleveland, Mississippi. She is an avid sports fan and passionate about SEC football.
Profile:
- Admitted to bar, 2007, Mississippi
- Education: Delta State University, B.A. English (cum laude), 2004; University of Mississippi
School of Law, Juris Doctor (magna cum laude), 2007
- Member: Bolivar County Bar Association, American Bar Association and Mississippi Bar
Association
Back to Top |
