Campbell Steele

A native of Nashville descended from a First Tennessee Family, Campbell grew up in West Meade, attending St. Paul Christian Academy, the University School of Nashville, and Brentwood Academy, where he was a member of the state-champion football team.

Predeceased by his father, James DeWitt Carter Steele, and mother, Peggy Campbell Steele, he is survived by his brother James Nathan Steele (Amy) and nephew and niece Marco and Anna Steele.

Campbell earned a marketing degree at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and a law degree at the University of Memphis before settling back in Nashville and starting his career in real estate law at Stites & Harbison, under the tutelage of Julian Bibb. Later, he joined the firm of Reno & Cavanaugh, and specialized in complex partnership and debt structures for affordable housing projects in opportunity zones across the nation. He was recognized in Best Lawyers in America in 2020 and Mid-South Super Lawyers in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

His experience in commercial lending, finance, real estate and corporate law led him to join his lifelong friend Chenault Sanders as a principal in and general counsel of the Blackbird Companies, which includes Blackbird Capital, Blackbird Media and other affiliated companies specializing in private equity and real estate investments, emerging restaurant franchising, branding companies, and out-of-home assets such as the now-iconic Nashville Sign at the triangle at West End and Broadway.

He was the maternal great-grandson of Howell H. Campbell Sr., the founder of Standard Candy Company in Nashville, which introduced the Goo Goo Cluster in 1912 and remains a staple of Nashville’s cultural identity today. His paternal great grandfather, Charles E. Steele, was a chancery court judge whose ruling in the landmark Baker v. Carr case ultimately established constitutional law, having risen to the United States Supreme Court.

Having never married or had children, his greatest loves were his Springer spaniels, Belle and TinE, and his surrogate children, Riley, Reagan and Rowan, from his best friend of four decades, Jay Sheridan. Together, Jay and Campbell managed Belle Camp, the beloved weekend farm and lake in Fly, Tennessee, where friends and family have gathered for 25 years to fish and escape the bustle of everyday life.

He was famous for tall tales told by the fire, his love of Pearl Jam and the Marvel franchise, and a thirst for adventure. He always looked for the good in people, even when he couldn’t see his own.

Campbell’s generosity of spirit, legal mind, loyal friendship and wry wit will be missed by many, as his legacy lives on.

A memorial will be held at Mt. Olivet Cemetery on Sunday, August 10. Visitation will begin at Noon, with the service to follow at 1 p.m.