LAWRENCE, EDWIN LESTER JR., was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Born in Damascus, GA on September 20, 1918, Edwin was taken into the arms of Our Lord Jesus Christ on January 15, 2014 at the age of 95 from Homestead, FL. Edwin Lawrence was a good Christian, a devoted and loving husband and father, a good provider and a gentleman. These were the virtues he most valued in a man and his family wishes to proclaim here that he lived and breathed them his entire life. Edwin was a graduate of the University of Georgia and a veteran of World War II, during which he served in the Pacific Theater. After the war he founded Lawrence Motors, and later owned and operated the Theater Soda Shop, a fixture of downtown Homestead next to the Seminole Theater. He owned and operated residential rental properties for many years. He also did bookkeeping and prepared business and personal tax returns, which he continued to do well into his 80's. The most significant event in Edwin's life was his marriage to Mary Ellen Dearing on October 24, 1948. Edwin and Mary Ellen were deeply in love and devoted to each other throughout their lives. She died on September 14, 2004. Edwin was a devoted Christian and a hard working member of the First Baptist Church of Homestead for 83 years, where he sang in the choir for many years with Mary Ellen and assisted with the collection count. Edwin is survived by his children Richard E. Lawrence of Jacksonville, David L. Lawrence of Pensacola, Mary Anne Lawrence of Homestead; his brother Wayne Lawrence of Blue Ridge, GA; his grandchildren, Shelsie Lawrence of Pensacola, Sarah Barnes of Ft. Lauderdale, Cathy Barnes of Homestead and Brian Lawrence of Pensacola; as well as three prized great grandchildren, Summer Munoz of Homestead, Oliver Gilbert of Pensacola and Ella Graham of Ft. Lauderdale. Services will be at Palms Woodlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery, 27100 Old Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL 33032, on Saturday, January 18, 2014. Visitation is from 12:30 - 2:00PM followed by the Service and interment also at Palms Woodlawn, 305-247-4218, www.palmswoodlawn.com.
Published in Miami Herald on Jan. 16, 2014
