Thomas S Lawson Jr.

Thomas Seay Lawson, Jr., died at his home in Montgomery, AL, on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at the age of 89. He was beloved by his family and friends and always kept them entertained with his humor. He was known for his generous spirit, his kind heart, and his poet’s soul. A life-long member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Montgomery, he served on the vestry and as a teacher of the “Speaking the Word” class for lay readers. He was active in his community as a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Society of Pioneers of Montgomery. He also served on the board of The Lighthouse of Montgomery.

He had a distinguished career as an attorney, devoting more than five decades to the law. Most of his career was spent as a partner with the Capell & Howard, P.C. law firm in Montgomery. During his years of practice, primarily as a courtroom litigator, he was active in the state and local bar associations, serving as President of the Montgomery County Bar Association and President of the Alabama State Bar’s Young Lawyers’ Section. He was appointed by the Chief Judges of both the Fifth and Eleventh U. S. Circuit Courts of Appeal to their Lawyers’ Advisory Committees. He was also President of the 11th Circuit Historical Society, a trustee of the Alabama Law School Foundation, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Law Institute.

Mr. Lawson attended the University of Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957 and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

After service as a Naval officer at sea, he returned to the University of Alabama for a Juris Doctor degree in 1963. Following law school, he served as law clerk to the Chief Judge for the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. He developed some of his trial skills as an Assistant District Attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit of Alabama. A high point of his career was arguing a case before the United States Supreme Court.

After leaving the active practice of law, Mr. Lawson spent the next twenty years performing as a professional actor on stage and in film. He spent several years living in New York City where he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and Actors Equity Association, appearing in both short and feature films. On stage he performed with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, at The Joseph Papp Public Theatre, The Lost Nation Theatre, The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre and The Springer Opera House, among others. His favorite role was Henry II in The Lion in Winter. In his last two decades of life, he was unofficially known as “The Patron Saint of Nora’s Playhouse,” the women’s theatre company founded and helmed by his wife Caroline.

Mr. Lawson was preceded in death by his parents, Justice Thomas Seay “Buster” Lawson and Mrs. Rose Gunter Lawson, as well as his first wife, Sarah Clayton Lawson. He is survived by his wife Caroline Reddick Lawson, his children, Rose Gunter Lawson (David Knudson), Robin Lawson Scheuer (John), Thomas Seay Lawson III (Parrish Ramsey), step-children Herschel Towles Hamner, III (Lauren) and Susanna Hamner Ridlehoover (Jeffrey). He is survived by seven grandchildren: Sarah Clayton Scheuer, Thomas Malino “Buster” Scheuer, Elizabeth Fairlie Knudson, Carmen Anne Ramsey, Robert Pierce Hamner, Catherine Marlowe Hamner and Henry Sparks Hamner. He is also survived by his sister Jule Lawson Lanier, and a number of nieces, nephews and many loving cousins.

The funeral service will take place Friday, November 22, at 3:00 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Montgomery with The Reverend Duncan Johnston officiating. Visitation with the family will be from 2:00-3:00 in the church parish hall. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

Pall Bearers will be James Nelson Clayton, Bruce Johnson Downey III, Herschel Towles Hamner III, David Nelson Knudson, Clifford Anderson Lanier III, Jeffrey Todd Ridlehoover, Thomas Malino “Buster” Scheuer and John William Scheuer. Robert Pierce Hamner will serve as crucifer. Honorary Pall Bearers will be the members of the ArtMakers Salon Group, of which Mr. Lawson was a founder and faithful member.

The family expresses their gratitude for the loving care provided by caregivers, especially Mr. Lawson’s long-time family friend, Rachel Webster.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 113 Madison Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104 or to the University of Alabama, Theatre Fund #10075, Box 870268, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.