Judge John Harvey "Cam" Cameron, Jr., 61, of Sequatchie County, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at his home on August 3, 2026, surrounded by his loving family after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.

Cam had a way of making everyone around him feel like they mattered and he never let an opportunity to prove it pass him by, whether it was behind the bench or with a big hug.

He was born on Feb. 17, 1965, in Hamilton County, to John Harvey Cameron, Sr. and Eva Therese Moresi Cameron.

Judge Cameron was a wonderful judge and an even more wonderful human being. He addressed everyone who appeared in front of him with kindness, patience, and fairness. Whether you were a wealthy litigant in a civil suit or an indigent defendant in a criminal case, you could always count on being treated with respect and dignity before Judge Cameron. He genuinely cared about the people he interacted with on a daily basis, from other judges and lawyers, to court staff and law enforcement, to parties and witnesses. His smiling face and kind demeanor will be missed by all who knew him.

Cam was a 1984 graduate of Marion County High School where he played on the football team and cemented lifelong friendships. He went on to earn his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Before he decided to get his law degree, Cam spent several years working as a child protective services officer for the State of Tennessee. His hands-on work with vulnerable children and adults shaped the way he saw people for the rest of his life. He went on to attend the Nashville School of Law where he graduated and was accepted to the State Bar in 2002.

Cam joined his father's legal practice in Jasper, Tn., where the two of them built a long respected legal career. In 2012, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Legal Aid of East Tennessee and was serving as President-Elect of that board at the time of his elevation to the bench. In August 2019, he was appointed South Pittsburg Municipal Court Judge and also served as a special judge for the General Sessions Court of Marion County. He was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to serve as a member of the disciplinary hearing committee of the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility. In 2022, he ran for and won election to the 12th Judicial District Part II.

Judge Cameron’s lineage dates back to early settlers of the Sequatchie Valley. His family has been in Marion County since the early 1800’s. He is related to our 11th President, James Knox Polk and a cousin to the presiding Scopes Trial Judge John Tate Raulston.

Cam married the love of his life, Cara Deann Hammontree, in 1995 and their marriage was a partnership built on adventure as much as devotion. They loved camping and hiking with their friends and family, chased bluegrass music and mountain views together, and only grew closer with time. He was a devoted father to his step-son, Luke and the apple of his eye their daughter Anna Killeen, who shares his sense of humor and zest for life. Ask anyone who was in Anna's middle school classroom the day Bigfoot came running through the woods outside the window. Cam never did confirm nor deny. Cam and Cara enjoyed many travelling, hiking and camping adventures together.

Away from the bench, Cam was a fiercely competitive and successful racquetball player, winning numerous titles across the state of Tennessee and locally. In 1995 he was ranked eighth in U.S. men's open play. He was a fantastic cook in the kitchen, an avid VOL fan, and just as competent on a tractor and heavy machinery as he was in the courtroom. He never met a stranger; his laugh was infectious. Always good for a story; he had the ability to burp a full sentence to entertain his nieces. He loved God quietly and lived it loudly, in the grace and humility he carried through every part of his life. He was the family glue, forging and loving endlessly, even when his older sister made him eat mud pies as a kid he loved her anyway. He adored his nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family without limit and held numerous life long friendships.

Judge Cameron is survived by his wife, Cara; daughter, Anna; step-son, Luke; father, J. Harvey Cameron, Sr. and bonus mom, Emily B. Cameron; sister, Laura Cameron Craddock (John); and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces whom he loved without measure. He will be deeply missed.

Judge Cameron is predeceased by his mother, Eva Therese Moresi Cameron; little sister, Mary Killeen Cameron; paternal grandparents, Lt. Col. John W. and Waymon M. Cameron; maternal grandparents, Harry James Moresi, Sr. and Rosemary Killeen Moresi; and step-brothers, Scott Cobble and Tony Cobble.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to the Judge John Harvey "Cam" Cameron, Jr. Scholarship Fund, c/o William L. Gouger, 28 Courthouse Square, Suite 100, Jasper, TN 37347. Cam’s wish was to help young people in the counties he served attend law school, and the scholarship bearing his name will fulfill his wish.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 1-6 p.m. (CST) in Rogers Funeral Home, 400 Laurel Ave., South Pittsburg, Tn.

Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m. (EST) in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chattanooga, 305 West Seventh Street at Pine, Chattanooga. A reception will follow in Key-Andrews Hall.

Arrangements are by Rogers Funeral Home, 400 Laurel Ave., South Pittsburg, Tn. 37380, 423 837-7176.