2023 24 Black Pages FINAL 2 - Flipbook - Page 91
Memorial Tribute to...
Melvin Lawrence
May 14, 1947 - July 8, 2023
Melvin Lawrence was born May 14, 1947, to the late Henry Lawrence, Jr. and Susie
Spivey Lawrence in Macon, Georgia. He was the middle child of three children.
Early Saturday morning, July 8, 2023, God called one of his precious servants to
be him. Melvin was preceded in death by his brother, Milton Lawrence. Melvin
gave his life to Christ at a young age and was a long-time member of Tremont
Temple Baptist Church, where he served on the Usher Board. He graduated from
Ballard-Hudson (now Southwest) High School, a Bibb County School, in 1965.
After high school, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
from Savannah State College in 1970. In 1987, Melvin moved to Forsyth, Georgia,
with the management program at Hardee’s. Here, Melvin lived most of his adult
life with his wife of 31 years, Catherine Bouie Lawrence. After marriage, Melvin
joined Catherine and became a member of Hopewell United Methodist Church
members, where he faithfully served as a Lay Leader until his death. Additionally,
he was a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Rotary International,
Kiwanis International, Lion International, Prince Hall Free, and Accepted Masons,
and a Review Panel Member of Monroe County Juvenile Court and the Monroe
County Board of Education. Melvin was known throughout the community as a
servant with a giving heart and would help anyone in need. He dutifully served
as the Director and Senior Center Manager for the Older Americans Council and
Post 3 Council Member for the City of Forsyth for more than 20 years. There was
not an instance of giving that Melvin did not involve himself with. So much so
that in reflecting upon Melvin’s life, a fellow city councilman acknowledged that
Melvin would invite people to knock on his door to talk about their city concerns.
His passions included watching marathons of old westerns and sports, speaking
engagements, volunteering, dressing up, and, most ironic, paying his respect at
funerals. Melvin was a community pillar who received numerous accolades for
his service. In many of his speeches, he recited the poem “I Asked God,” and it is
evident that he sought to live his life by the poem’s words. More specifically, “…I
asked for power, that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness, that I
might feel the need of God…”
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