Judge Eugene E. Lawson was born in Cleveland, Tennessee on July 30, 1937 and passed away on November 5, 2012 at his home in Newnan, Georgia. He was predeceased by his son, Philip Lawson. He is survived by his wife, Mildred E. Lawson; three children - Deborah Butcher, Eddie Athearn, and Barbara Parker; seven grandchildren - Melissa Padgett, Elizabeth Thompson, Chip Athearn, Leigh Klein, Kyle Athearn, Jenna Parker, and Callie Parker; seven great-grandchildren - Zack Padgett, Carly Padgett, Erin McFadden, Tye McFadden, Zoie Athearn, Mason Athearn, Victoria Klein; two sisters - Betty Adkins and Sandra Sietz of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Judge Lawson began practicing law in Jonesboro in 1971. He served as a Prosecutor of the Clayton County Juvenile Court from 1973 until he was elected Clayton County Probate Judge in 1983. He retired from the bench in 2003. He was a past president of the Probate Judges Council of Georgia. Judge Lawson taught at the Continuing Judicial Education Center at the University of Georgia from 1984 until his retirement in 2003.
Judge Lawson served his community in several ways. He was a founder and a member of the board for the Spivey Foundation. He was a co-founder also of the Association on Battered Women of Clayton County, the Rainbow House, and Samaritans Together. Judge Lawson for many years taught the Men's Sunday School Class at Jonesboro United Methodist Church.
A Memorial service will be held at Tara Garden Chapel, located at 681 North Ave., Jonesboro, GA 30236 on
November 8, 2012 at 3:00 PM. Reverend L. Floyd Carmack will officiate. The family will arrive early, between
the hours of 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to receive friends.
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