James Randall "Randy" Lawson

James Randall "Randy" Lawson, 65, of Fairmont, WV and Woodbridge, VA, passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, from double pneumonia. He was born in Fairmont to James Orin Lawson & Patty Lou Steele on June 26, 1960. He went to grade school in Fairmont and graduated from the Anthony Trade Center, White Sulphur Springs, WV, certifying in masonry, carpentry and small engine mechanic. He received his HVAC-R & Facilities Services Technology Certificate (Magna Cum Laude) at Northern Virginia Community College. Randy married Charlotte Denise Lawson on October 17, 1998, in Woodbridge, where he remained.
As a Class A Contractor for 45 years, Randy built and renovated homes. He was a Superintendent for Centex Homes and M&I Homes; Vice President/Partner for Perfect Solutions; and owned Randy's Renovations & Carpentry, LLC. He was known for his excellent and precise craftsmanship ("If you can't do it right the first time, don't bother.")
Randy proudly served our country as a veteran in the U.S. Navy (1980-1984), as an Aviation Structural Mechanic, 3rd Class on the "USS Independence" aircraft carrier during the Lebanon/Beirut/Grenada era. He was awarded the Humanitarian Ribbon, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Ribbon, AMD. Flatley Award, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Randy received an Honorable discharge.
Randy is preceded in death by his father James Orin Lawson, his mother, Patty Lou Steele, his brother Timmy Lawson, his grandparents Addie & Samuel Lawson, Glenn & Margie Steele and his nephew, Troy Dominque Wilson.
Randy is survived by his wife Charlotte Denise Lawson; his daughters Wendy Elizabeth Adams Murrah and Wesli Ericka Jensen; his sons-in-law Robert Jensen, John Murrah and Pedro Adams; his beloved grandchildren Devin Edward Adams, Ryan James Adams, Kylie Denise Jensen, Natalie Lynn Jensen, and Alyssa Mae Murrah; his sisters, Diana Rager (Kenny Rager), Sharri Lawson, Kristi Lawson, Jennifer Lawson, Jamie Lawson & Erin Lawson; and aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces & nephews and great nieces & nephews.
Randy earned his Legion & Fellowship degrees with the Woodbridge Lodge 583 of the Loyal Order of Moose. He loved fishing, hunting, gardening, football, horseshoes, playing cards, playing pool, and throwing darts. He loved to travel. In the Navy he went around the world four times and visited Naples, Italy 27 times. Randy and Denise went on many cruises to different countries. His favorite cruise was Alaska.
He loved going to his camp in Trails End at Chincoteague Bay on the Eastern Shore, where he taught his "city" family how to live the simple life - camp, fish and go crabbing. Randy would tell you in a heartbeat that his major achievement in life was being a good husband, father, grandpa, big brother and uncle. He believed Family came first. Randy was the heart of his family, believing in Jesus, honesty, kindness, tough love, generosity, and most importantly, his perseverance - no matter what life threw at him. He had a great passion for life. His favorite saying was "May you live forever and I never die." He was so proud to be a "mountain man" from West Virginia. Randy and his vast knowledge of everything will be greatly missed by us all.
Following the committal service; the family would like to extend an invitation to their home for a reception.