150 Years of Womble: Bill Ramsey Reflects on Giving Back

In addition to helping their clients and communities with their legal skills, Womble Bond Dickinson attorneys have long found other ways to serve those in need. 

Nashville Partner and Billboard Top Music Lawyers honoree Bill Ramsey is one of those lawyers who saw an opportunity to help and took it. More than three decades ago, he threw a birthday party and invited his friend, legendary musician Otha Turner, to come play. The event unexpectedly drew around 150 people, and an idea was born.

“I’ve always been a big supporter of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, and I invited them to put out a donation bucket at the party,” Bill said. When Otha learned the money would help people who could not afford food, he told Bill not to pay him and instead donate the money to those in need. In turn, that inspired Bill to dedicate the event to his friend. And “Ode to Otha” was born.

Food insecurity is a particularly important cause to Bill, and his efforts have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Second Harvest Food Bank over the years.

“Ever since I moved to Nashville in the early ‘80s, I’ve been working with Second Harvest,” he said. “The thing that’s incredible about Second Harvest is that for every dollar we raise, they make four meals out of it. I don’t know anyone else who can do that.”

He and a client also worked with Second Harvest to start a backpack program that provides students facing food insecurity with meals and resources they can take home from school.

Beyond the community service aspect of the event, Bill wants to make sure that Otha Turner’s legacy continues to shine. Otha passed away in 2003 at the age of 94. He won the 1992 National Heritage Fellowship and in 2009, was honored with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail. His music was featured in Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated film, “The Gangs of New York.”

Otha was one of the foremost practitioners of the fife-and-drum tradition associated with northwest Mississippi. He crafted his own fife from river cane and performed with drummers, maintaining a musical style with roots connected to West African traditions. Ramsey explains that the music is closely related to the blues but has its own distinctive instrumentation and rhythms.

“It’s a type of music that originated in Senegal, but because of Mississippi’s association with the blues, it’s become a version of the blues, with its own instrumentation and rhythms,” Bill said. “Until you hear it, you can’t really explain it.”

Ode to Otha has grown into a large street festival. Bill closes the street in front of his house, sets up a stage, brings in food vendors, and welcomes between 800 and 1,300 attendees. A bus brings members of Turner’s family and community from Mississippi each year to participate. One of this year’s featured performers was Otha Turner’s grandson, Andre Otha Evans, who carries on the family's musical tradition

And then there’s the food! A ticket to the event not only included a day-long music festival, but guests also enjoyed a barbecue feast. In addition, this year’s event featured a train ride, face painting, and other activities for kids.

Womble Bond Dickinson sponsored this year’s celebration and fundraiser. Other sponsors of the 2026 Ode to Otha included the Nashville Bar Association, O’Neil Hagaman LLC, Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, The Ridge, Brantley Sound, Lightning 100, and Yazoo.

“One reason I love Womble so much is that they are very community oriented,” Bill said. “I’m a big believer that we are blessed to be in this profession, and we owe it to our community to help people and give back.”

This article is part of a series celebrating Womble Bond Dickinson’s 150^th anniversary and reflecting on the firm’s enduring legacy of service to the law, its clients, and the communities it serves.