Our Team
PAULA DRUNGOLE-ELLIS, Sr. Chancellor
 Judge Drungole-Ellis serves as the Senior Judge for the Fourteenth Chancery Court District. A 1983 graduate of Rust College, Holly Springs, Mississippi, Judge Drungole-Ellis received her J. D. Degree from the University of Kansas School of Law, Lawrence, Kansas in 1986.
She was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1986 and began her legal career practicing in various State and Federal Courts. In 2009, she was appointed as the Oktibbeha County (Starkville) Youth Court Judge and served until 2018 when she was elected Chancery Court Judge on November 6, 2018.
Judge Drungole-Ellis serves on various boards and associations, including the Methodist Senior Services Board of Directors, the State Department of Education Judicial Task Force, and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ).
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JOSEPH N. STUDDARD, Chancellor
Judge Studdard serves as Chancery Judge for the Fourteenth Chancery Court District. He
was born in Gadsden, Alabama, and after moving to Columbus was educated in the
Lowndes County public schools (New Hope), East Mississippi Junior College, Mississippi
State University (graduating cum laude) and the University of Mississippi School of Law
(graduating cum laude ).
Judge Studdard is very active in civic and community service, having served as President of
the Columbus Kiwanis Club, President of the New Hope Exchange Club, President of the
local MSU Alumni Association as well as on the national Board of Directors, on the Frank P.
Phillips YMCA Board of Directors and on the Board of the Lowndes County Chapter of the
American Red Cross. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Columbus Christian
Academy.
Prior to his election to the bench, Judge Studdard practiced law in Lowndes County for
approximately 31 years. He is married to the former Stephanie Cunningham of Columbus,
and they have two children.
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RODNEY P. FAVER, Chancellor
 Judge Faver serves as Chancery Judge for the Fourteenth Chancery Court
District. In 1984, he received a B.A. degree from Mississippi State University and
subsequently received his J.D. from the University of Mississippi in 1987.
Judge Faver was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1987 and the Mississippi Bar in
1996 and practiced in Florida until 1997. At that time he returned to Mississippi
and began his legal career in Mississippi in private practice in Oktibbeha County.
During his legal career in private practice, and prior to being elected Chancery
Court Judge in 2018, Judge Faver served as the Attorney for OCEDA and the
Greater Starkville Development Partnership. He also served as City Prosecutor
for the City of Starkville, County Prosecutor for Oktibbeha County, City
Attorney for the City of Starkville, and most recently served as Municipal Court
Judge for the City of Starkville for nine and a half years. Judge Faver has been
married to his wife, Patricia, for more than twenty-two years, and they have two
children.
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Contact Us
Paula Drungole-Ellis
Oktibbeha County Courthouse
101 E. Main Street
Starkville, MS 39759
Telephone: (662) 323-5130
Facsimile: (662) 338-1068
Joseph N. Studdard
Lowndes County Courthouse
P.O. Box 684
Columbus, MS 39703
Telephone: (662) 329-5844
Facsimile: (662) 241-1913
Rodney P. Faver
Oktibbeha County Courthouse
101 E. Main Street
Starkville, MS 39759
Telephone: (662) 323-5130
Facsimile: (662) 338-1068
Patricia Rives
Staff Attorney
P.O. Box 684
Columbus, MS 39703
Telephone: (662)329-5844
Facsimile: (662-241-1913
Molly M. Jackson
Court Administrator
Oktibbeha County Courthouse
101 E. Main Street
Starkville, MS 39759
Telephone: (662) 323-5130
Facsimile: (662) 338-1068
Cindy Strickland
Deputy Court Administrator
Lowndes County Courthouse
P.O. Box 684
Columbus, MS 39703
Telephone: (662) 329-5844
Facsimile: (662) 241-1913
Susan L. Alford, RPR, CSR
Court Reporter for Judge Drungole-Ellis
400 Whitney Cove
Oxford, MS 38655
Telephone: (662) 323-5130
Melissa Grimes, RPR, CSR
Court Reporter for Judge Studdard
P.O. Box 684
Columbus, MS 39703
Telephone: 662-628-4323
Leigh B. Pettit, CSR
Court Reporter for Judge Faver
101 E. Main Street
Starkville, MS 39759
Telephone: 662-322-2024
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