J. Michael Dover
J. Michael (Mike) Dover was born in Toccoa, Georgia, and grew up and graduated from high school in Leslie, Sumter County, Georgia. He attended undergraduate school at the University of Georgia and obtained an AB Degree in English, and a JD degree from Lumpkin School of Law at the University of Georgia in Athens. While in law school, he married Martha Jennings of Marietta, Georgia, and they moved to Valdosta, Georgia immediately upon his graduation from law school in order for Mike to join the law firm of H. Arthur McLane. The firm became McLane & Dover, and later McLane Dover Sherwood & Shelton. When McLane went on the bench as Superior Court Judge, the firm became Dover Sherwood & Shelton which in 1991 merged with Barham Bennett Miller & Stone to form Barham & Dover, which has ultimately evolved into the present firm of Dover Miller Stone & Karras, P.C.
Mike Dover’s practice is primarily in the areas of real estate (with an emphasis on residential), estate planning and probate law. Additionally, he has an active transactional practice involving the formation of limited liability companies, corporations and other entities.
Professional memberships include State Bar of Georgia, Valdosta Bar Association, Southern Judicial Circuit Bar Association, Real Estate Section of the State Bar of Georgia, Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia, and Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity.
Student activities at the University of Georgia included Kappa Sigma Social Fraternity, Blue Key, Gridiron Secret Society, Student Senate, Student Government Minister of Men’s Affairs and Honor Court Justice.
Civic and community activities with current and/or past positions include University of Georgia Alumni Society, 2nd District Vice President; Valdosta Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors; Lowndes-Valdosta Arts Commission, Board of Directors; Kiwanis Club of Azalea City, President, Lt. Governor and State Committee Chairman; Valwood School, Member of Board of Trustees and Chairman; First State Bank & Trust, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Lowndes-Valdosta Historical Society; Valdosta Heritage Foundation, Board Member and President; Preservation Commission, Chairman; Theatre Guild Valdosta Foundation, Director; Brookwood North Neighborhood Association, President; Member of University of Georgia’s President’s Club; University of Georgia Parents and Family Council; Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors; and Valdosta Country Club.
Mike is an active member of Park Avenue United Methodist Church of Valdosta. He and Martha have one daughter, Susanna, a graduate of the University of Georgia, who works with Valdosta State University.
Outside interests include travel, reading, history, architecture, historic preservation, performing arts and gardening/landscaping.
e-mail: mikedover@dmsklaw.com
Willis L. Miller III
Willis (Wyn) L. Miller III is a native of Valdosta, Georgia. He attended Valdosta city schools and graduated from Valdosta High School in 1965. He attended the University of Georgia, Oxford College (of Emory University) before graduating from Emory University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He earned a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from Emory University Law School, and then returned to Valdosta to practice law which he has done since 1972.
Mr. Miller was originally a sole practitioner before joining the law firm of Barham and Bennett in 1976. That firm subsequently merged with the law firm of Dover, Sherwood and Shelton. He now practices law at 701 North Patterson Street with the firm of Dover, Miller, Stone, and Karras. He is a principal in the firm specializing in the areas of corporate and banking law, residential and commercial real estate, and many forms of transactional law. He also practices healthcare law and represents South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta. He was one of the first trained mediators in the Valdosta area and is actively engaged in a mediation practice in the south Georgia area.
Mr. Miller has been involved in civic activities throughout his life. He has been a lifelong member of the Valdosta Rotary Club serving in various capacities in that organization. He is also active in the First United Methodist Church. He has served as the Chairman and on the Board of Trustees of the South Georgia Regional Library. In his professional life, he is a member of the Valdosta Bar Association (President, 1990-1991), the Southern Judicial Circuit Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
Finally, Mr. Miller and his wife Linda have one son, Will, an attorney in the Atlanta area.
e-mail: wynmiller@dmsklaw.com
Wilton (Pete) E. Stone Jr.
Born in Millen, Jenkins County, Georgia, and lived in Swainsboro, Emanuel County, Georgia until moving to Lakeland, Georgia. Graduated from Lanier County High School and enrolled in Mercer University. Received an AB degree in English at Mercer University and a JD degree at the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 1973. Has practiced law in Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia since 1973. Currently a principal in the firm Dover Miller Stone & Karras, P.C. Married to the former Ann Traylor of Atlanta. Two children and three grandchildren.
Member, The State Bar of Georgia (Workers’ Compensation Section); The Valdosta Bar Association; The Southern Judicial Circuit Bar Association; The Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Admitted to practice before The Superior Courts of Georgia, The Supreme Court of Georgia, The Court of Appeals of Georgia, and The Supreme Court of the United States. Has served as a panelist at Workers’ Compensation ICLE Seminar and as program presenter for GPSWCA. Appointed as a Mentor, State Bar of Georgia Transition Into Law Practice Program by The Supreme Court of the State of Georgia.
Specializes in Workers’ Compensation, representing Claimants and Self-Insured Employers. Other practice areas include: Personal Injury, Corporate and Business Law, Real Estate Law, Estate Planning and Probate Law.
Member, Valdosta Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce; Azalea City Kiwanis Club, (Past President and Chairman of the Board of Directors); Business Advisory Board for Students In Free Enterprise at Valdosta State University; Leadership Lowndes, Class of 1990, Past Committee Chairman); Kinderlou Forest Golf Club; Christ The King Episcopal Church.
e-mail: petestone@dmsklaw.com
Patricia M. Karras
Patricia (Patti) McCorvey Karras was born in Nashville, Georgia on September 6, 1961. She attended Berrien County schools and graduated from Berrien High School in 1979. She graduated cum laude from Valdosta State College (now University) in 1981with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She earned a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 1985 where she was a member of the Moot Court Board, and was active in Phi Delta Phi, serving as Exchequer in 1983 and Magister in 1984. During her term as president, the legal fraternity was awarded the Bibb County Volunteer of the Year award for its service to the community in tutoring the children residing at the Masonic Childrens’ Home in Macon.
She returned to Valdosta after graduation in 1985 and joined the firm of Dover, Sherwood and Shelton. This firm merged with the firm of Barham, Bennett, Miller & Stone in 1991. She now practices law at 701 North Patterson Street with the firm of Dover, Miller, Stone & Karras, P.C. She is a principal specializing in the areas of family law, personal injury and adoption. Other areas of practice include real estate law, estate planning and probate law. She is a member of the Valdosta Bar Association, serving as Secretary in 1987, and the State Bar of Georgia She was a member of the first Leadership Lowndes class and has served as a board member of the VSU Alumni Association.
She and her husband, Mark, were married in 1985 and have two (2) children, Maggie and Carter. They are very active with their children’s activities and volunteer at Valwood School, both serving as board members of the Valiant Club. She and her family are members of First Baptist Church of Valdosta.
e-mail: pattikarras@dmsklaw.com
Jackson R. Langdale
Jackson (Jack) R. Langdale is a native Valdostan and graduated from Lowndes High School in 1997. He attended undergraduate school at Mercer University, Macon, Georgia earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 2001. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Mississippi College School of Law in 2005.
While in law school, Mr. Langdale worked at the Office of Capital Defense Counsel in Jackson, Mississippi and at Dover Miller Stone & Karras in the summers. After graduation, he began full time employment with the firm as an associate and is now a principal in the firm.
Practice areas include Residential and Commercial Real Estate, Estate Planning, Probate Law, and Business Law.
Mr. Langdale is admitted to practice before The Superior Courts of Georgia, The Court of Appeal of Georgia, and The Supreme Court of Georgia. Mr. Langdale is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Valdosta Bar Association, Valdosta Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Lowndes Class of 2007, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta.
e-mail: jacklangdale@dmsklaw.com