By Staff
December 4, 2005
Funeral for James Willard Lawrence, 74, of Decatur was Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Brady McCulloch officiating.
A graveside service with military honors and Masonic Rites was held in Mt. Tabor Cemetery.
Mr. Lawrence died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005, at Decatur General Hospital. He was born Aug. 14, 1931, in Morgan County to James Curtis Lawrence and Esther Louise Lawrence. He was retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Tech Sgt. and from Fruehauf Corp. He was a well loved Papaw to his grandchildren and was so proud of his children and grandchildren. He was supported during his illness by a host of family and friends. Mr. Lawrence was past master of Rising Sun Masonic Lodge, past president of the Decatur Shriners Club and past head of the York Rite Bodies of Decatur. He was a member of the Cahaba Shriners. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Cecil Howard Lawrence, Charles William Lawrence and Harry Evon Lawrence.
He is survived by his wife, Gracie Marie Lawrence of Decatur, two sons, James Gregory Lawrence of Opelika and David Willard Lawrence of Decatur; a daughter, Pamela Sue Southern of Decatur; a brother, Harold Gene Lawrence of Kingsport, Tenn.; a sister, Lavirne Fowler of Eva; and five grandchildren, Joshua Clinton Lawrence of Opelika, Jennifer Nicole Lawrence of Decatur and Brandon Lawayne Southern of Decatur, Kara Ann-Marie Lawrence of Opelika and Bradley Scott Lawrence of Decatur.
Pallbearers were Brothers of the Rising Sun Masonic Lodge No. 29.
Donations may be made to the Decatur Shriners Club.