Charles Edward Kirksey, who dedicated his life to serving the St. Louis community as a defense attorney and circuit court judge during a 50-year legal career, has died. He was 78.

Kirksey, who grew up near The Ville and in Richmond Heights, died Aug, 20. He is remembered by many as a scholar and a gentleman. He graduated from Saint Louis University High School, where he played football until he sustained an injury that would not allow him to continue the sport. That injury set him on a different path.

He went on to Saint Louis University and graduated from its law school, where he also joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He worked for Legal Aid Society for one year before opening his own law practice, Bell, Kirksey and Associates. Attorney Booker T. Shaw, a partner at Thomas and Colburn w

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