Col. John Terrell Lawrence II USA, Retired

Colonel JOHN TERRELL LAWRENCE II, USA, Retired, died Sunday, June 26, 2022 at his home in Douglasville, Georgia. Born September 27, 1944, in Miami, FL to John Terrell and Ireanea Kraus Lawrence, Col. Lawrence grew up in Hapeville, Georgia, and graduated in 1962 from Georgia Military Academy (now Woodward Academy) in College Park, GA.

He attended North Georgia College in Dahlonega, Georgia, and graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Physics. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery from the ROTC program at North Georgia College. The following day, June 6, 1966, he married Sandra (Sandy) Brownlee at her family’s residence on Boat Rock Road, Atlanta.

After airborne and ranger training, in February, 1967, he was assigned as executive office (XO) of Battery A 319 Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In November of 1967 he accompanied the battalion to Vietnam where he continued as XO of Battery A and then became battalion liaison officer.

In January, 1969, Col. Lawrence returned to the United States and was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, where he was first a battery commander and then the Operations Officer (S3) of the 6th Battalion, 92nd Field Artillery, 2nd Armored Division. While there he was selected for the Field Artillery Officers Advanced Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In February, 1971, he was reassigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he became an artillery instructor in the prestigious Artillery Committee of the Infantry School. In August of 1973, Col. Lawrence became aide-de-camp (ADC) for the Commanding General of the US Army Alaska (USARAL) at Fort Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska, and in January, 1975, he was reassigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he was first the ADC for the Deputy Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps and then in June, 1976, became the S3 of the 1st Battalion, 39th Field Artillery, 18th Field Artillery Brigade.

He was selected to attend the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He graduated in June, 1978. In addition he participated in a Master's Degree program with Central Michigan University in Kansas City, Missouri, and received his degree in Public Administration. Upon graduation, he returned to Fort Bragg where he became the Chief of the Operations Division, G3, XVIII Airborne Corps. He was next assigned as an operation staff office at the Allied Joint Force Command in Brunssum, the Netherlands. In January, 1983, he returned to Fort Bragg where he became the Deputy Fire Support Coordinator of XVIII Airborne Corps. While in this position he was selected for battalion command and returned to the 1st Battalion, 39th Field Artillery as the battalion commander in August, 1983.

While in command, Col. Lawrence was selected to attend the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and joined Seminar 8. After graduation in July, 1986, he was assigned to the Pentagon, and in 1988 took over as the Professor of Military Science in charge of the ROTC Program at his alma mater, North Georgia College. In March, 1991, he was reassigned to command the Readiness Group at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Sandy moved back to Georgia to care for her terminally ill father, and after completion of his tour, Col. Lawrence retired in December, 1993.

His medals and decorations include the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), Air Medal with the Numeral 6, Army Commendation Medal with “V” and 3 OLCs, Master Parachute Badge, and Ranger Tab.

Col. Lawrence is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sandra Brownlee Lawrence; daughter, Catherine “Lisa” (Clint) Blacker; son, John T. (Jessica Whipple) Lawrence, III; grandchildren, Madeline Elisabeth Blacker, Grace Anne Blacker, Scout Hazel Lawrence and John T. Lawrence, IV, all of Douglasville; sister-in-law, Catherine (Chris) Brownlee Wood, Eatonton, GA; nephew, Cody Wood, Eatonton; niece, Casey Wood, Macon, GA; and cousins.

He was active in many civic and political endeavors, including Rotary, Douglas County Board of Elections, the North Georgia Regional Water Council, and the Douglas County Republican Party.

A Memorial Service will be held at 4:00 pm on Sunday, July 3, 2022 at Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven Funeral Home, 8640 Rose Avenue, Douglasville, GA 30134 with Reverend Jim Garrett officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 3:00 pm.

A committal service and inurnment with Military Funeral Honors will be held at the Georgia National Cemetery, Canton, Georgia at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Wounded Warrior Project at WoundedWarriorProject.org.

Fond memories and condolences may be sent to the Lawrence family at www.whitleygarner.com

Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the services of John Terrell Lawrence, II.