Judge John Woodward Sognier

Click Here to Download a free funeral planning guide.

Celebrating the life of
Judge John Woodward SognierDecember 17, 1919 - September 06, 2013

Judge John Woodward Sognier
Savannah- Judge John Woodward Sognier passed away on Friday, September 06, 2013, after a brief illness.
Judge Sognier was a native of Savannah, Georgia. He was born December 17, 1919 to Joseph W. Sognier and Viola Trott Sognier, both natives of Savannah. Judge Sognier was educated in the public schools and graduated from Savannah High School. He attended Columbus University Law School in Washington D.C., now Catholic University. Later Judge Sognier attended Emory University and was awarded an LLM degree Masters of Law in Taxation.
He entered the armed forces in January, 1941, and was commissioned in the Infantry. Transferring to the Air Force, he served as a fighter pilot flying 59 missions in the European Theater. Later he commanded a fighter squadron in India Burma. Judge Sognier served on recall in the Air Force during the Korean War and is the recipient of several Air Medals as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After World War II, Judge Sognier was admitted to the Georgia Bar January 1, 1946 and began practice with the Savannah firm of Kennedy, Jenkins and Oliver. The firm later became Kennedy and Sognier and Judge Sognier remained with the firm until 1980 when he was appointed to the Georgia Court of Appeals.
He served in the General Assembly of Georgia 1955-56, was Chatham County Registrar 1957-60 and Chatham County Attorney 1960-68. A trial lawyer, Judge Sognier is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He served on the Board of Bar Examiners 1974-79 and the Fitness Committee 1978-80.
In 1980 Judge Sognier was appointed to the Court of Appeals of Georgia by Governor George Busbee. Elected to a six year term, in 1981, Judge Sognier was reelected in 1986 for a second six year term and retired as Chief Judge in 1992. Following his retirement from the Court, Judge Sognier practiced tax law with Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Martin for nine years. During the same period he handled arbitrations and mediations for JAMS and Henning Mediation Services in Atlanta and numerous asbestos cases for a trustee in bankruptcy. He retired from active practice in 2005.
Judge Sognier, an Episcopalian, is former Senior Warden of Christ Church, Savannah, and is a Mason 33rd degree and a Shriner.
Judge Sognier is survived by his wife of 28 years, Loretto Boswell Sognier; his daughter, Anne Sognier Murray Dr. Morgan W. Murray; grandsons, Morgan W. Murray, Jr. and Charles Gray Murray; and granddaughter, Mollie Wilson Murray.
He was predeceased by his son, 1st Lieutenant John Woodward Sognier, Jr., who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1967, leaving a daughter, Jessica Sognier Osborne Dr. William E. Osborne, and three great-grandchildren, John Sognier Osborne, Emily Anne Osborne, and Henry Elton Osborne.
A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, September 9, 2013, in the Greenwich Section of Bonaventure Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at a reception at The Oglethorpe Club immediately following the service.
Remembrances may be made to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude's Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
Please sign our on-line guest book at www.foxandweeks.com

SHARE YOUR CONDOLENCES

Submissions protected by Kanshi.

GUEST BOOK

My deepest sympathy for your loss. I will always value my friendship with Jack and will miss our visits.

- Louis Rawls, Atlanta, GA

Loretto: We were so sorry to hear about the Judge. Our deepest sympathies to you. Sherry, Johnnie, Michelle, and Mark Beasley

- Sherry Beasley, Thunderbolt, GA

Judge Sognier was a good Judge and lawyer.His wisdom will be missed.I extend my sympathy to the Family.

- Tom Mahoney, Savannah, GA

Bill, Jessica , and family, We are so sorry to hear about your loss. I know he was an important person in your life Jessica, and he sounds like quite an accomplished man. I know you and your family will miss him. Please know you all are in our thoughts and prayers. Vernon, Rebecca & Hannah Buchman

- Vernon Buchman, Savannah, GA

I will always remember the Judge fondly. My deepest sympathies to you. God bless, Scot

- Scot Kirkpatrick, Atlanta, GA

Jack was a remarkable man. He will be missed.

- Patsy & Jerry Hubbard, Rome, GA

We send our sincerest sympathy to Loretto and family upon hearing that The Judge has passed on. He surely lived life to its fullest and will be surely missed by all who loved him and the many friends made over the course of his long and fruitful life. Our thoughts are with you today and always. Elly and Drew

- Dr. and Mrs. Drew Seibert, Island Heights, NJ

Dear Jack, You are the last of your generation in our family. We will miss your wisdom, we will miss you.

- William R Johnson, Smyrna, GA