Memorial Service Announced For Tuscaloosa Attorney Bob Prince

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A memorial service for beloved Tuscaloosa attorney Bob Prince is set for 11 a.m. Monday, May 6, at Christ Episcopal Church in Tuscaloosa.

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As Patch previously reported, Robert Franklin Prince died Thursday morning at the age of 75 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Rev. Paul Pradat will officiate the memorial service, while Dr. Ford Simpson will serve as crucifer. Ben Minto and Lewis Fitts will serve as torchbearers.

Prince was preceded in death by his father, Walker Russell Prince and his mother Madge Willis Casteel.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Dena Drury Prince; his children Courtney Prince Dacre (Mike), Mary Elizabeth Byrd Garvey (Bradford), William Lucas Prince (Hazel) and Grace Robertson Prince; his grandchildren Kendall Morgan Walker, Robert Patrick Walker, Reagan Prince Walker, John Arthur Dacre, Elizabeth Ann Garvey, Caroline Cole Garvey, Bradford David Garvey, Jr. and Grace Drury Garvey; his sister Linda Prince Owens, his niece Jonna Owens Lee and his great-niece Macy Beth Lee.

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After graduating from Colbert County High School in 1966, the University of Alabama in 1970 and The University of Alabama School of Law in 1974, Prince went on to a successful, decades-long career in law, beginning first as a criminal defense attorney.

From there he went on to practice divorce law before finally entering the realm of personal injury and tort law.

After initially being admitted to the Alabama and Florida Bars, Prince practiced for a short time in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before returning to Tuscaloosa to practice in the firm of McDuffie and Holcomb. He was also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Alabama, as well as before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Prince established his own practice in 1979 and ran the firm as the senior partner for 45 years.

In addition to his legendary career in the courtroom, Prince was also an adjunct professor of Trial Advocacy at the University of Alabama Law School for over 40 years. In that role, Prince successfully coached his teams to numerous regional championships, several national top 10 finishes and a national championship.

A man of many accomplishments, Prince consistently held an AV Martindale Hubbell rating for his professionalism and ethics, served as president of the Alabama Association for Justice and the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, and obtained the ranking of board-certified Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Prince also received the Bench and Bar Outstanding UA Law Alumnus Award and the Walter P. Gewin Award, and, in 2024, was inducted into the University of Alabama Law School’s Lawyer Hall of Honor.

Additionally, Prince was distinguished as a master bencher with the Tuscaloosa Inn of Court.

Prince was also an involved member of the community outside of the courtroom and classroom.

An active member of Christ Episcopal Church and a former member of First United Methodist Church, Prince was the former director of Outback America and the Boys and Girls Clubs of West Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration of contributions to Christ Episcopal Church Foundation, 605 Lurleen Wallace Boulevard North, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 or the Robert Franklin Prince Endowed Law Scholarship at the University of Alabama School of Law, Box 870382, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.

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