Obituary: John Russell Lawrence
John Russell Lawrence passed from this life on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, in Bolivar, Tennessee with his wife by his side. He was born in Jackson, Tennessee on March 14, 1961, to his parents, Dr. William E. Lawrence and Janette Russell Lawrence. He grew up in Bolivar and graduated from Central High School with the Class of 1979. It was there he met his high school sweetheart, Lisa Cothren Lawrence, whom he married on December 7, 1985.
John graduated from The University of Memphis in May of 1985 and then began his career as an Equity Research Analyst at Morgan Keegan & Co. in Memphis, Tennessee. He was currently working for The Benchmark Company based in New York, New York. John was well respected and recognized for his work in the finance community. After earning his Executive MBA from The Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University in 1993, his career led him to Dallas, Texas. It was there, John and Lisa started their family in 1995 when their son Russell was born.
In 1997, he and his family moved back to Memphis where his father lived with them until his death in 2007. They welcomed the birth of their daughter, Olivia, in 1999. Their home of 26 years was a place where John found much joy in raising their children, hosting family and friends, and any excuse to get behind the grill. Travel was a large part of John’s life with his family, for business, and sporting events. Through his travels, he became quite the reference for restaurant recommendations.
John’s love for sports started in Little League and carried through high school baseball, managing the football team, and playing golf throughout his life. He supported the Memphis Tiger baseball team for many years and built strong connections with the players, coaches, and fellow fans. Watching Olivia play on her school golf team and Russell on his football team filled him with such pride and joy. John and Russell were big Dallas Cowboys fans and loved watching games together.
John had a strong faith in God and was a remarkable example of loving one’s neighbor. He actively served in his churches throughout his life. He had a beautiful tender heart with a genuine compassion for others and never finished a day without finding a way to help a friend or stranger. John was eagerly involved in his loved ones’ lives. He took time to check in on his friends and their families and he always showed up. John always had an elaborate story to tell and a way to make people laugh. In November 2023, John and Lisa moved back to their hometown of Bolivar where they have enjoyed everyone’s warm welcome. John was a loving husband and father who worked sacrificially to build a wonderful life for his family. He will be truly missed.
John was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Russell Emerson Lawrence; and an unborn son, John Daniel Lawrence. He leaves many to cherish his memory including cousins, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law, his brother, William E. Lawrence, II (Ruth Anne) of Wynne, Arkansas; his beloved aunt, Jeanne Waller Campbell of Germantown, Tennessee; his daughter, Olivia Ann Lawrence (fiancé, John Taylor Pugh) of Memphis, Tennessee; and his wife of almost 39 years, Lisa Cothren Lawrence, of Bolivar, Tennessee.
Services will be held at First Baptist Church on Saturday, November 16, 2024, in Bolivar, Tennessee. Visitation is at 1 p.m. and the funeral will be at 3 p.m. The burial will follow the service at Bolivar Memorial Cemetery. Pastors Chris Carter, Matt Boatwright, and Scott Pearl will conduct the services. Serving as Pallbearers will be Jimmy Sain, Bobby Sain, Fred Kessler, Greg Wilson, and Mike McKinnie, all of Bolivar; Steve White of Brandon, Mississippi. Honorary Pallbearers included Eddie Kessler, Boyette Denton, Steve Robinson all of Bolivar; Tommy Sain of Counce, Tennessee; Tommy Breeden of Toone, Tennessee; Russell Norville of Dyersburg, Tennessee; Dan Simmons of Jackson, Tennessee; and Chris Holmes of Nashville, Tennessee. Shackelford Funeral Directors of Bolivar is in charge of the professional services.
Any donations in his memory may be made to First Baptist Church and/or Parrans Chapel Baptist Church, both of Bolivar, Tennessee.
Courtesy of Shackelford Funeral Directors, Bolivar, Tennessee.
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