About Us
The legal team of South County Law Firm at the 2023 Okmulgee County Historical Society Annual Gala event, sponsored and hosted by South County Law Firm. We are a team that gives back to the communities we serve!
Dru R. Tate
Managing Attorney and CEO
Dru always wanted to make a career out of helping people. As an attorney, you often meet your clients as they are experiencing some period of despair in their life, whether it be the loss of a loved one or some change in the family dynamics. Even those setting up their will or trust are faced with some uncomfortable decisions causing them to procrastinate in starting this very important process.
Her passion is to help clients breakdown the issues, craft creative solutions, and efficiently execute a mutually agreed upon plan of action, leaving the client feeling reassured, empowered and in control. Her reward is hearing clients declare, “Well, that was easier than I expected!” and “Why did I put this off so long and let this give me so much anxiety?”
She is also very passionate about her family, faith, and friendships. She met her husband, Kyle, in undergraduate school at Northeastern State University. He is an Optometrist and owner of Insight Eyecare with clinics serving patients in Glenpool and Jenks. Together they have three precious babies; Lexi, Holly and Gentry. The girls are a blast and keep them very busy. They live on some land in south Tulsa near Liberty/Mounds and they love to ride four-wheelers and go exploring.
They are members of First Baptist Church Jenks and they love spending time with their friends and family. Kyle and Dru believe that to whom much has been given, much is expected. They are both devoted to their careers and their calling of helping people improve their lives.
Dru R. Tate
Managing Attorney and CEO
Dru always wanted to make a career out of helping people. As an attorney, you often meet your clients as they are experiencing some period of despair in their life, whether it be the loss of a loved one or some change in the family dynamics. Even those setting up their will or trust are faced with some uncomfortable decisions causing them to procrastinate in starting this very important process.
Her passion is to help clients breakdown the issues, craft creative solutions, and efficiently execute a mutually agreed upon plan of action, leaving the client feeling reassured, empowered and in control. Her reward is hearing clients declare, “Well, that was easier than I expected!” and “Why did I put this off so long and let this give me so much anxiety?”
She is also very passionate about her family, faith, and friendships. She met her husband, Kyle, in undergraduate school at Northeastern State University. He is an Optometrist and owner of Insight Eyecare with clinics serving patients in Glenpool and Jenks. Together they have three precious babies; Lexi, Holly and Gentry. The girls are a blast and keep them very busy. They live on some land in south Tulsa near Liberty/Mounds and they love to ride four-wheelers and go exploring.
They are members of First Baptist Church Jenks and they love spending time with their friends and family. Kyle and Dru believe that to whom much has been given, much is expected. They are both devoted to their careers and their calling of helping people improve their lives.
Education
- Juris Doctorate, The University of Tulsa College of Law, Tulsa, OK
- B.A. in Political Science, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK
- Stigler Public Schools, Stigler OK
Bar Memberships
- Oklahoma Bar Association
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation Bar Association
- Tulsa County Bar Association
- Okmulgee County Bar Association
- McIntosh County Bar Association
Volunteer / Community / Organizational Involvement
- Tulsa Title and Probate Lawyers Association
- Glenpool Chamber of Commerce
- Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce
- Eufaula Chamber of Commerce
- Jenks Chamber of Commerce
Melissa Holderby
Attorney
Melissa brings years of experience in the practice of law, primarily in the areas of family law and criminal law. She now focuses her practice on collaborative divorce and custody matters in Creek, Okfuskee, and Okmulgee Counties. She believes that whenever possible, parties to a divorce or custody proceeding are best served by discussing opportunities for a collaborative agreement early in the process, rather than jumping directly into expensive and stressful litigation. Melissa also handles a variety of criminal matters and enjoys working with nonprofits and small businesses on policy writing, contract development, and other organizational matters. She handles a variety of civil matters as well.
Melissa also has a passion for serving her community and for the preservation of Historic Oklahoma once serving as a Board Member of the Bristow Historical Society. She is a current Trustee for the Bristow Public Library. Melissa received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tulsa in 2002 after completing a double major in literature and fine art and a minor in art history. She then attended the University of Oklahoma where she was awarded her Juris Doctorate in 2005. Melissa is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Okmulgee and Tulsa County Bar Associations. Melissa is admitted in the Northern, Eastern, and Western District Courts of Oklahoma, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. She is also a certified divorce and family mediator in Oklahoma. A fourth-generation Bristow resident, she and her husband have raised their three children in that community, volunteering extensively with local organizations.
Melissa Holderby
Attorney
Melissa brings years of experience in the practice of law, primarily in the areas of family law and criminal law. She now focuses her practice on collaborative divorce and custody matters in Creek, Okfuskee, and Okmulgee Counties. She believes that whenever possible, parties to a divorce or custody proceeding are best served by discussing opportunities for a collaborative agreement early in the process, rather than jumping directly into expensive and stressful litigation. Melissa also handles a variety of criminal matters and enjoys working with nonprofits and small businesses on policy writing, contract development, and other organizational matters. She handles a variety of civil matters as well.
Melissa also has a passion for serving her community and for the preservation of Historic Oklahoma once serving as a Board Member of the Bristow Historical Society. She is a current Trustee for the Bristow Public Library. Melissa received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tulsa in 2002 after completing a double major in literature and fine art and a minor in art history. She then attended the University of Oklahoma where she was awarded her Juris Doctorate in 2005. Melissa is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Okmulgee and Tulsa County Bar Associations. Melissa is admitted in the Northern, Eastern, and Western District Courts of Oklahoma, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. She is also a certified divorce and family mediator in Oklahoma. A fourth-generation Bristow resident, she and her husband have raised their three children in that community, volunteering extensively with local organizations.
Education
- Juris Doctorate, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
- B.A. in Political Science, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
- Bristow Public Schools, Bristow, OK
Bar Memberships
- Oklahoma Bar Association
- Tulsa County Bar Association
- Okmulgee County Bar Association
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation Bar Association
- Licensed in the United States District Courts for the Western, Eastern and Northern Districts of Oklahoma
Volunteer / Community / Organizational Involvement
- Current Trustee, Bristow Public Library, (President, 2021-2022)
- Former Board Member, Bristow Historical Society
- Volunteer/Foster, Bristow Barnyard Animal Rescue
Our Legal Team
Caroline Kelly
Firm Administrator
Bethany Salsman
Case Manager
Cassi Cantrell
Executive Assistant
Robin Stafford
Case Manager
Morgan Sears
Case Manager
Megan Jones
Administrative Assistant
Patti Miller
Administrative Assistant
Don't just take our word for it!
I must say initially I thought we really didn't really need any help with estate planning, but after consulting with Dru, I realized how it important it was to not leave a burden on our children. Dru helped us get everything setup to fit our personal circumstances. What a relief! Thank you Dru! We are very grateful!
Michael R.
Recently used the South County Law Firm to handle probate after my father passed away last November. Very pleased with the service and level of communication from attorney Dru Tate and Robin Stafford in the Okmulgee office. Both were readily available to take my calls. I was also pleasantly surprised to receive a call after my case was completed to see if I had any additional questions or concerns.
Tim C.
I highly recommend this firm Dru and Courtney did an amazing job on my case. They go above and beyond to go over everything with you and take care of their clients.
Patrick N.
Our Core Values
- Empathy
- Efficiency
- Empowerment
- Kindness
A Passion For Helping People And A Commitment To Community
At South County Law Firm, we strive to provide you and your family with an open and comfortable legal experience. Whether you are establishing your family trust or traveling down one of life’s bumpy roads, we are here to make the process as smooth as possible. We truly value the relationships we have with our clients and we are committed to always being accessible and approachable. We have an appreciation for our client’s time and hard-earned money and strive for efficiency as we navigate the legal process together.
A Passion For Helping People And A Commitment To Community
At South County Law Firm, we strive to provide you and your family with an open and comfortable legal experience. Whether you are establishing your family trust or traveling down one of life’s bumpy roads, we are here to make the process as smooth as possible. We truly value the relationships we have with our clients and we are committed to always being accessible and approachable. We have an appreciation for our client’s time and hard-earned money and strive for efficiency as we navigate the legal process together.