By: Kyla Wetmore
After over 35 years of service to the City of Collegedale, Judge Kevin Wilson passed away on Jan. 9, 2026. First elected as city judge in 1990, Wilson was re-elected four times and has served generations of Collegedale residents, according to a city press release.
As municipal court clerk, Rachel Shuttles sat next to Wilson on the bench each week, assisting with records and other court activities. She commented to the Accent about the significant impact Wilson had on the community.
“He loved life so much [that] he wanted everyone to live it as long as they could. [Sometimes] that meant getting free from addiction or making sure you slow down so you don’t kill yourself or someone else,” Shuttles said. “All I could probably sum it up with is ‘yes’, he loved life, he loved people. He loved being here. He loved us.”
Shuttles remembered several times when defendants credited Wilson’s firm words with helping them turn their lives around.
“If someone told him that he had changed their life, you could see it in his eyes that he was getting emotional,” Shuttles said. “It just meant so much to him that what he was doing made a difference.”
According to Shuttles, Wilson was also quick to defend the court staff. In one example, she said that Wilson severely reprimanded a defendant who had targeted them with public online criticism and would have spoken out to defend anyone he cared about.
Deputy District Attorney General Steven Moore prosecuted alongside Wilson for three and a half years and knew him professionally for well over a decade. He noted Wilson’s intelligence and positivity in particular.
“I can’t remember a time sitting here that [Wilson] didn’t come in [with a] big smile on his face,” Moore said.
Many people who worked directly with Wilson said that he was consistently fair, while striving to give sentences in a way that would help people change their trajectories for the better.
“Kevin always tried to find the best in some people, even when they’ve made very bad decisions,” Moore said.
In addition to serving as a judge for the City of Collegedale, Wilson was an active member of the Chattanooga Bar Association, the Tennessee Municipal Judges Conference, the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conferences and the American Collectors Association (ACA) International, according to the city’s press release. He also served on the board of Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation.
David Barto, Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation’s founder and executive director, was about 10 years old when he first met Wilson. Years later, Barto asked Wilson to be on the board when the foundation first started. Wilson assisted in several projects, including tornado cleanups, and helped with legal matters.
“He was very intentional about being involved and being of service,” Barto said.
Wilson graduated from Southern in 1978 with a BS in Business Management, according to his bio on the Collegedale Government website. He served several times as an evaluator for Southern’s senior business strategy presentations, according to Stephanie Sheehan, dean of the School of Business.
Dr. Mark Hyder, professor at Southern’s School of Business, stated in an email that Wilson never talked down to or embarrassed a student.
“Several of the students have gone on to become attorneys and remember him as a kind, witty person that helped them understand the law and the role of an attorney,” Hyder stated.
A new City of Collegedale judge will not be officially elected until the fall. Until then, the position will be filled by a licensed attorney appointed by the city commission, according to a notice of judicial vacancy released by the City of Collegedale. While the commission reviews applicants for the temporary position, Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Tori Smith is serving as Collegedale city judge. On Jan. 14, she sat for the first court session since Wilson’s death.
“It was really hard,” Smith said. “I opened up court talking about him. I wanted everyone to know that I knew I was sitting in a great man’s seat, and that that’s who should be there, and that I wanted to honor his legacy by treating everyone with respect and kindness.”
Smith got to know Wilson as a public defender in his courtrooms in East Ridge and Collegedale and considered him a close friend and mentor. She enjoyed practicing in front of him because of his ability to think outside the box and his treatment of every individual.
“Even though the nature of my job was to advocate for my client, he also cared deeply about everyone that came in front of him,” said Smith. “So even though we sometimes would disagree on the way in which we thought we could best help them, it was easier to understand his ruling.”
When Smith began the process of becoming a judge in 2024, Wilson advocated for and supported her. She shared that he always gave her time if she had questions and believed in her more than she believed in herself.
“I’m honored to get to fill in for [Wilson’s] seat right now and to try to fill his shoes, which [is] impossible,” said Smith. “I don’t know that there will ever be another Collegedale judge like Kevin Wilson.”
Wilson’s wife, Scarlett Wilson, expressed gratitude for the response from the community since Wilson passed away.
“Kevin would be so honored by all of the outpouring of appreciation and kindness,” Scarlett Wilson said. “He was very special and so loved his profession and all of the interesting people that he had the opportunity to interact with. He made friends everywhere he went.”
