Karl Edward Lawhon

With his family at his side, Karl Edward Lawhon (Ed) passed on Sunday, December 15, 2024, after a brave battle with cancer. Ed was born on June 10, 1937, in Charlotte, NC, to Joseph Clyde Lawhon and Mary Estelle Biggers Lawhon, both deceased.

He was a loving family man, great husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was married to Cornelia Gray for 53 years. He leaves four children: Marakis Kay Perryman (Johnny), Lewisburg, TN; Kelly Edward Lawhon (Melissa), Jacksonville, FL; Joseph Karl Lawhon (Susan), Jacksonville, FL; Elizabeth -Anne Canin (Jason), Winter Park, FL; ten grandchildren and great-grandchildren and one sister Jo Ann Wauford, Williamsport, TN. He also leaves to mourn several nieces and nephews, as well as many dear friends whom he loved very much.

Ed received his education in North Carolina and in Tennessee at Columbia High School.

Ed moved to Florida from Tennessee in 1959 as a brick mason working at Patrick Air Force Base. He loved Florida, decided to make it his permanent home, and helped construct many buildings in Jacksonville, including the CSX building, Forest High School, and the Veterans Coliseum.

In 1968, Ed met Wm F. Sheffield, a real estate broker. Mr. Fritz Sheffield encouraged him to become a realtor. He was a Broker and developer for the Sheffield company for over 30 years, serving as vice-president and sales manager. He was solely responsible for starting and completing many developments as well as selling land in Nassau, Duval, Baker, and St. Johns counties. Ed eventually opened his own brokerage firm, Ed Lawhon, Inc., in 1999. He loved his work and commented about the miles of roads he had built in these counties.

He loved his country, his flag, and the pledge of allegiance. As a dedicated past President of the Rotary Club of North Jacksonville since 1981, he accomplished many good things for the club and his community. Ed was a Paul Harris Fellow seven times. He made each of his children Paul Harris Fellows. Ed was a director and fundraising chairman of the club. He organized and led his club in fundraising with events such as the World of Nations, Donna National Marathon, the National POW-MIA Memorial, the annual Rotary Christmas parties, and handling the beer sales at concerts. Ed hosted Rotary board meetings at “The Shed” and usually prepared dinner for the members. He believed in the principles of Rotary and the 4-Way-Test and applied it to his life. He led his Rotary Club’s recital of the 4-Way-Test at the conclusion of each meeting. He was also a member of the Jacksonville Police Council. Ed voluntarily served on a state board for the health department representing the Florida Association of Realtors and took this position very seriously for 25 years.

In addition to spending time with his family, Ed enjoyed watching NASCAR racing and football, was a boater and loved fishing. As a notary, he enjoyed officiating weddings for numerous friends and family. His greatest joy was cooking seafood and cheese grits for friends, and he hosted frequent events and parties at “The Shed.” These gatherings began with the pledge and a prayer. He invited a group of special friends to have a drink and solve the world’s problems at “The Shed” on Friday afternoons. He thanks Mark Andrews, Tom Mantia, Pat McIlwain, Steve Berry, Jim Koivisto, Terry Bright, and others for enriching his life with their friendship. We all thank the wonderful doctors and nurses at MD Anderson and those at hospice before his passing.

He was generous and always willing to help before being asked. Always smiling, he was a man of faith and often said he lived a great life. Ed will forever be missed.

In remembrance, if you wish, it will be your choice of flowers or a donation to his favorite charities that were near and dear to his heart:

Rotary Charities of North Jacksonville - C/O Synovus Bank, Attention Christina McLaughlin, 7768 Ozark Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32256

or

National POW-MIA Memorial & Museum, 6112 POW-MIA Memorial Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32221

Visitation: Friday, December 27, 2024, 6-8:00 pm at Oaklawn Chapel

Funeral: Saturday, December 28, 2024, 11:00 am at Legacy Lodge at Oaklawn

Burial at Oaklawn