Obituary of Carol Louis Lawrence

Carol Louis (“C.L.”) Lawrence was born March 8, 1941, in Summerville, S.C. to Nellie
Esther Lawrence and St. Julian Brown. Until the age of 5, he was raised by his
grandma Phibbieyann Lawyer. When he started school, he moved to the Union Heights
neighborhood in North Charleston, where he lived with his mother and stepfather,
Joseph “Bubba” Pinckney.
He attended Bonds Wilson High School where he enjoyed playing the baritone horn and
the tuba in the school band. He developed many friendships during this time, that
continued until his death. While in High School, he met Lonnie Hamilton III, who was
his band teacher and his Principal Theodore Collier. Both men served as surrogate
fathers his entire life. During his high school years, he also sang in the group, The
Southern Hummingbirds and at 15 years old, he started his first job as a school bus
driver.
Upon graduation in 1959, Carol began his college career at Allen University in
Columbia, SC, as a music major. Due to lack of funds, he dropped out of school and
moved to New Jersey where he worked to save money. He ended up joining the US Air
Force on July 13, 1960, where he worked as a cook. Frustrated with being a cook and
not a photographer as he wanted, he decided not to re-enlist after his first contract was
completed. It was in the Air Force that he met another life-long surrogate father,
Williame Greene Jr, who encouraged him to transfer to the US Navy where he felt Carol
would have better opportunities. This advice and further guidance from Mr. Greene,
changed the trajectory of his life. He left the Air Force and after a two-week break,
traveled to San Diego, CA where he completed boot camp for the second time. In the
Navy he was an Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technician. He rose from Airman to
Chief Warrant Officer 3. The Navy took him across the United States and throughout
the world. He was stationed twice in California as well as Tennessee, several bases in
Virginia, Pennsylvania and retired in Virginia. He was also a proud Vietnam veteran.
In 1980, it was discovered that C.L. had developed cancer of the larynx. He underwent
a major surgery, which removed his voice box. This diagnosis resulted in him retiring
from the US Navy with a combined twenty-one years of service in August 1981.
Throughout his military career, he attended many military schools and completed his
associate’s degree at Southwestern College. Upon retirement he enrolled in Virginia
Wesleyan College (now University) in Virginia Beach and graduated in 1983 with a
bachelor’s degree in business. He then became employed as a civil service employee
with the federal government as a Computer Specialist. He continued his education and
in 1988 earned a master’s degree in business management from The George
Washington University in Washington D.C.
Upon retiring for the second time in 1995, he took on the full responsibility for caring for
his mother who had suffered a stroke. Once she was stable, he began his next career

which was teaching higher education. He taught at Cooper Career Institute and Bryant
and Stratton in Virginia Beach before accepting a position at Camp Community College
as an Assistant Professor. He was promoted to Associate Professor during his tenure at
Camp. It was during his time that he mentored and developed special relationships with
many students. Unfortunately, a second cancer diagnosis (esophagus) caused him to
retire once again. He was, however, able to continue working until July 2024 by
teaching online courses. C.L. truly valued the importance of education. Teaching
brought him great joy. He always encouraged his students to not stop at the Associate’s
level but to push themselves further and attain higher degrees and/or certificates. He
considered studying a hobby and would often study for fun.
While, working and providing for his family was of the utmost importance, C.L.’s first
commitment was to God. He was raised at Ashley Missionary Baptist Church in
Summerville, SC., but later joined New Hope Baptist in Charleston where Rev. Fields
baptized him. While stationed at various military bases, he joined churches throughout
the country including- Shady Grove MBC (Memphis), Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
(Alameda, CA), Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (Virginia Beach), First Baptist Church-
Bute Street (Norfolk), East Coast Baptist Church (Virginia Beach), Shiloh Baptist Church
(Norfolk) and most recently, New Hope Baptist Church (Virginia Beach). He was a
Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher as well as a bus driver at multiple
churches. In 1981, he became an ordained deacon at Pleasant Grove (Virginia Beach)
and continued in this role at First Baptist Church-Bute Street. He took this role very
seriously. C.L. made sure that all the children on his assigned membership list had
Christmas presents. He visited the elderly and sick and shut in monthly. He made sure
his wife and children served with him and in later years his grandchildren.
C.L. enjoyed several hobbies. He loved cooking, especially barbequing. He was known
for his ribs but also for grilling and frying holiday meats including turkey, ham, pork
tenderloin and pig feet. He made pancake breakfast with his three girls every Saturday
morning for many years and continued this tradition with his grandchildren. Never one
to meet a stranger, C.L. often invited single sailors that he met to church, summer
gatherings, as well as Sunday and holiday dinners. As a young boy his mother and his
Grandma Whaley introduced him to fishing, which became a great love of his. He
introduced his children and grandchildren to fishing and took them on day-long boat
trips and later as his health challenges arose, they would fish from the shore. C.L.
loved to garden. His mother, also a wonderful gardener, helped foster his love of
gardening. He had a winter and summer garden for years. Even when he could no
longer eat by mouth, he continued to grow vegetables for his family and friends to enjoy.
Another passion was photography. Many couples’ wedding albums were created by
C.L. and he also enjoyed photographing nature.

Carol was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. He always rooted for them even when their
record was 1-15. He often said that it was dangerous to be a Cowboys fan while living
in Northern Virginia, but he continued to cheer for his favorite team. He was so excited
to witness them play in person against their biggest rival, although not at a home game.
In July 2023, he was finally able to travel to Texas and tour the AT&T Stadium where the
Cowboys play. This was truly a memorable experience for him and his wife, Audrey,
who is also an avid fan.
Music was C.L.’s greatest passion. He loved all music, but his favorite was gospel. His
favorite gospel group was the Mighty Clouds of Joy, and his favorite singer of all time
was Sam Cooke. He loved to tell the story of how he met Sam Cooke two times as a
high schooler and Sam Cooke remembered him the second time. Prior to losing his
larynx (voice box) many said that C.L. sounded just like Sam Cooke when he sang. He
loved educating anyone who would listen about the history of gospel, parts of music,
tempo, etc.
After meeting Mr. Theodore Collier, who was the first Alpha man that he knew, he
decided in high school that he too wanted to be an Alpha man. He began the process in
1960 at Allen University but was unable to finish. In the Fall of 1984, he fulfilled this
dream of becoming a distinguished man of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the
oldest black fraternity. He supported his chapter, Alpha Phi Lambda (Norfolk) in various
ways. Even if he was too tired or ill to drive, he’d have one of his brothers pick him up
so that he could still participate in meetings and events. In 2019 he was honored as
Patriarch of the Year by his chapter.
Carol became a member of the Prince Hall Mason at an early age in Charleston, SC.
Upon his move to Virginia, he realigned his membership and became a faithful member
of Ruth Lodge #92 of Virginia Beach. He supported his lodge whenever he could and
considered it an honor to be a Mason like his dad, St. Julian.
In 1968 while stationed at NSA Millington outside of Memphis TN, thanks to a blind
date, Carol was introduced to Audrey Gillespie. On their first date they went to the
circus. They were engaged in 1969 and married in 1970. From this union three
daughters were born. Audrey was a steadfast and loyal wife for 54 years and was the
true definition of a helpmate. She cared for C.L. through his five different cancer
diagnoses and many other health ailments.
On Monday, December 2, 2024, God decided that it was time for C.L. to transition from
labor to reward. He had a wonderful reunion with his parents, grandmother, stepfather,
sisters, Mary Ann Murphy, Annie Louise Meyers, and Mary Ann Brown and his brother
Samuel Brown. He was most looking forward to reuniting with his daughter Caroline
Lawrence Smith. Left to mourn, his death are his wife, Audrey; children- Carl Glisson of
Atlanta, GA, Ronda (Glen) Bernstein of Richmond, VA, Carla Lawrence, Carynn (Frank) Porter, Camille (Morris) Bryant of Pikesville, MD; grandchildren, Andrew Gordon,
Audrey Thames, Arika Thames, Tapio Taina Jr., Marynn Porter, Christofer Porter,
Camrynn Porter, Josiah Bryant and Audra Bryant; a great-granddaughter, Kennedy
Porter; a special brother, David (Jacqueline) Floyd of Nashville, TN, a special sister,
Rosa Edwards; a loving son-in-law, Willie “Buc” Thames; adopted sister, Bridgette
(Antonio) Wright of Charleston, SC; adopted daughter, Jameka Hartley; his second
family of siblings, Sharon Greene-Golden, William Greene III, Karen Greene-Fencher;
brother-in-law, William Meyers of Charleston SC; godbrother Delbert Washington of
Charleston, SC; godchildren, David “Dasaw” Floyd Jr. of Austin, TX, Tonya Twigg of
Cary NC, Marcus Gates of Suitland, MD and Athena Gibbs; many nieces, nephews and
friends.

2 Timothy 4:7 reads: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith. Carol fought many “good fights” over his 83 years,8 months and 24 days of life
and his life is a testament to God’s faithfulness. He has finished his race, and he now
rests with his heavenly father.