He was born on February 7, 1926 in Jackson, TN to the late James S. and Alma Allen Lawrence. He was married to the former Ella Reynolds. Mr. Lawrence was a decorated war veteran proud of his military service. After graduating high school at Columbia Military Academy in 1944, he resigned from an officer training program and enlisted in the US Navy to make sure he would be in action before World War II ended. He saw action in the Battle of Okinawa on a ship that endured kamikaze attacks and a monsoon. After World War II he joined the Naval Reserve and was called back to duty serving at Thule, Greenland during the Korean War.
After WWII, he went to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and graduated with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. For over 40 years he owned and operated a farm near McKellar Field in Madison County. He first went into farming together with his father James Lawrence Sr. and was named Outstanding Young Farmer by the Tennessee Farm Bureau. He and his father also owned a farm supply and general merchandise store until the 1960's.
He served his community on the Board of Trustees of Jackson-Madison County General Hospital from 1966-71, and also served for many years on the board of directors of the National Bank of Commerce in Jackson.
While he farmed his entire career, his training as an engineer gave him an avid interest in technology, especially computers. He was a devoted Christian who gave countless hours to Fellowship Bible Church helping to record and distribute sermons on electronic media before the internet became prevalent. After his retirement he also mentored disadvantaged children in the use of computers.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, James S. Lawrence, Jr., and a sister Virginia Lawrence Sculley.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years Ella Reynolds Lawrence of Jackson; Daughter, Brownie Clinton of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Son, Swan Lawrence (Sandy) of Topeka, Kansas, and three nieces.
Due to the current pandemic, a memorial service will be held at a later time when it is safe to do so. Swanee will be buried on the Lawrence family plot at Ridgecrest Cemetery.
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