Bill was born in Jackson, Tennessee on March 4, 1929, to Samuel Matthews and Elizabeth Tomlinson Lawrence. He graduated from Jackson High School and Vanderbilt University. In 1952 he married the love of his life, Patricia Weaver Lawrence. He served his country as an agent in the U. S. Army Counter Intelligence Corp in Korea.
Upon his return to Jackson, he joined his father and his brother in the family business, S. M. Lawrence Company founded in 1917. Under their leadership the company evolved from a local coal distributor to one of the top ten mechanical contractors in the state of Tennessee.
Bill was active in civic and benevolent causes. He worked tirelessly to promote Jackson and Madison County. He served as President of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, the Jackson Rotary Club, and Jackson Vanderbilt Club. He was Treasurer of the Reelfoot Council of the Girl Scouts of America, board member of Youth Town of Tennessee, YMCA, and Tennessee Contractors’ Association. He was Chairman of the Board of the Jackson Airport Authority and served many years on the Board of Directors as well as the Executive Board of the former Second National Bank. For his work in the community, he received several honors including Jackson Man of the Year and Tennessee’s Volunteer Industrial Developer of the Year.
He was a 70-year member of First Presbyterian Church where he served on both the Diaconate and the Board of Elders.
Bill had a deep love of flying and flew extensively for S. M. Lawrence, Inc. After retirement he volunteered for Angel Flight, a non-profit organization that serves people in need of transportation. His recreational flying included soaring. He was an active member in the Memphis Soaring Society, a non-profit corporation organized to promote the art, science and sport of motorless flight where he served as President. During his term as President in 2003, he led the club as they purchased land and developed a new soaring airport in western Arkansas. The field there is identified by the FAA as Lawrence Field.
He was passionate about his family and spent many happy memories on the Tennessee River where the family gathered regularly. He had a lifetime love of hunting and fishing, playing cards, and reading. Bill was an avid fan of SEC sports, particularly Vanderbilt football and basketball.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, his parents, his brother Samuel M. Lawrence, Jr., and his nephew, Charles H. Lawrence.
He is survived by his four daughters, Lynn (Jimmy) East of Bells, TN, Lucy Taylor of Knoxville, TN, Sally Jones of Jackson, MS, and Amy (Charles) Walton of Mobile, AL.
He will be remembered as “Papa” by seven grandchildren: Elizabeth (Adam) Nunley, Allison (Drew) Moore, Will (Shelby) East, Caitlin (Ben) Littlejohn, Rachel Walton, Emma Walton, and Luke Walton.
He was the proud great-grandfather of nine: Ayden, Wesley, Anna Craig, Smith, Miller, Lucy Kate, Walter, Wallace, and Isaac.
A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church August 5, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Memphis Soaring Society 2090 Old Oak Drive Memphis, TN 38119, First Presbyterian Church 1573 N. Highland Jackson, TN 38301, or your favorite charity.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GeorgeASmithandSons.com for the Lawrence family.
