Madison921web

– W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S –
A D V E R T O R I A L
Heather Aby has always been the kind of
person who pushes harder. “I always wanted
to be better. I wanted something more in life!”
Not that she expects things to be given to her.
“I know that to get the things you want, you
have to work hard for them. That’s what I’ve
done my whole life.”
Heather believes in herself, and she believes
in the power of women to accomplish anything
they set their mind to. Last year she started
her law practice, Aby Law, PLLC, in Madison,
after practicing law for 18 years, earning
numerous awards. “My daughter, Tanner Aby
Walker, had just graduated from law school at
Mississippi College, and I decided it was time
to pull off that Band-Aid and do what I had
always wanted to do!” Tanner practices law
alongside her mother in the firm that is
comprised of all women.
It was a long road to hanging her own
shingle. Heather grew up in Petal, Mississippi.
She attended the University of Southern
Mississippi where she majored in psychology
and minored in business administration. It
wasn’t until her last year at Southern Miss.
that Heather began thinking seriously about
going to law school. “I knew I could go farther
and do more, and becoming a lawyer was a
way to accomplish even more. It was a way for
me to help people in ways I may not have
been able to otherwise.”
About to get married to her husband, Trey,
Heather moved to Brandon and attended the
Mississippi College School of Law. “Trey
owned a lawn care business and already had
clients in Ridgeland, so that worked out great!”
She received her juris doctorate in 2002 and
went to work for Butler Snow. “I learned so
much when I was there,” says Heather. “I went
on to be an equity partner in a law firm with
two men.”
From the beginning, Heather was focused
on working in her clients’ best interest. “My
practice covers a broad spectrum, from family
law to criminal defense. I am most satisfied in
my job when I am helping others the best I
can. I put in the work for the client and when
they are happy, that is my biggest reward.”
Oftentimes, the people seeking the services
of an attorney are in a difficult situation in
their lives. Heather looks at the big picture
and focuses on what is best for each client.
“We see heartbreaking cases of drug abuse and
such, and we work to create conservatorships
to protect the children in the family. The
satisfaction comes with the success stories
when people turn their lives around and prove
themselves and we find ourselves back in court
again to dissolve the conservatorship. It is a
satisfying feeling to know that family will be
stronger now.” After years of representing
individuals accused of crimes, Heather took
on the added role of a public defender in
Madison County approximately nine years ago.
Heather says she loves practicing law with
her daughter. “Tanner is so smart, and I’ve
learned so much from her,” Heather states.
“She has a passion for the law like I do and
working with her day after day is so meaningful
for me. I love that I can share this with my
daughter. She is my other half!”
Married to Trey since August 8, 1999,
Heather says they have the perfect blended
family. “We have been together since 1998,
and we have four kids together.” In addition
to Tanner, Heather says their other daughter is
Taylor Shows, who lives in Hattiesburg, as well
as son C.J. Aby, who is a senior at Belhaven in
creative writing and will soon be getting his
master’s in animation.The caboose is Palmer
Aby, who is 17 and attending Pisgah High
School. “We are proud of all of our children.”
Heather describes Trey as “the hero in all of
my stories.” He may be a behind-the-scenes
kind of guy, but Heather says Trey is her rock.
The family loves travel, and instead of
buying gifts and putting up a tree, the family
spends time together on a trip. “We decide in
March or April where we want to go and we’ll
plan the rest of the year, researching the best
places to go and things to do.” The family has
traveled to such exotic locales as Southern
Thailand, Indonesia, Figi, Mexico, and many
trips to Los Angeles and New York. “We are
planning on going to Paris after Christmas,
but we’ll have to see what happens with this
pandemic.” Trey and Heather enjoy good food
and fine wines. “I am lucky, because Trey is a
great chef at home!” Heather is a huge
Alabama fan. “Trey is from Alabama, and I
have a special place in my heart for the
University of Alabama. I love rooting for
them in every sport!”
Speaking of sports, Heather’s other
business is owning a baseball team. “I loved
watching Trey catch in games in Palmer
Crossing which was the Black Sox’s original
field. The team has been important in my life
for decades. Our youngest son is named
Forrest Palmer Aby, after Palmer’s Crossing,
located in Forrest County, Mississippi!”
The Black Sox began operation as a team
in 1941 with Milton Barnes as the team’s
original owner. In January 2002, Milton
handed over the reins to Trey and Heather.
Trey gave sole ownership of the team to
Heather in 2009. Heather truly cares about
the players on her team and does everything
but play. “I sit in the dugout with the team,”
she says. “To my knowledge, I’m the only
female owner of a baseball team, and I was the
first woman inducted into the Mississippi
Baseball Congress Hall of Fame.” Her team
has dubbed her “Queen Bee.”
Heather’s office is located at 403B Towne Center Boulevard,
Suite 102, in Ridgeland. For more information on Heather Aby
and Aby Law, PLLC, visit www.abylawpllc.com.
Hometown MADISON • 87