Any widow of a Tennessee appellate judge who, during his lifetime, served a total of at least twenty (20) years as an appellate judge, shall be entitled to a pension from the state of Tennessee, provided, however, that such right shall not accrue until said widow has attained seventy-five (75) years of age. Provided, however, that no such widow who is now receiving, or who may later receive, a pension from the state of Tennessee under any retirement or pension plan of the state in effect now or in the future shall be eligible to receive the pension herein provided.
Said pension shall be in the amount of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) per month and shall be payable for the remainder of the widow's lifetime.
Whenever used in this section, the phrase "appellate judge" shall mean any judge who has served as a member of the Tennessee Supreme Court, the Tennessee Court of Appeals, or the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.
Said pensions shall be paid out of the general appropriations fund.
T.C.A. § 17-329