Deacon Lawrence M. Johnson was born July 22, 1934, the oldest child of Deacon Perno and Mrs. Edna Johnson (both now deceased) in Forest, Virginia. He passed away peacefully on June 10, 2013 after many months of serious illness. He was educated in the public schools of Bedford County and Lynchburg Virginia. He graduated from Dunbar High School in 1952. While at Dunbar he was active in many capacities including President of the Senior Class and saxophonist in the marching band.

Lawrence earned the Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA where the renowned educator Dr. Benjamin E. Mays was President. After serving in the US Army Band, he taught mathematics in the Atlanta public schools for more than 30 years.

After his matriculation at Morehouse, Lawrence and his high school sweetheart Marjorie C. McCory married in Atlanta, GA. They resided in Atlanta until his retirement after which they relocated in Lynchburg, and rejoined Forest Level Baptist Church.

Deacon Johnson accepted Christ as his personal Savior at an early age, and was baptized by Rev. Percy Jones, Pastor of Forest Level Baptist Church. He served faithfully in that church. As a teenager, he joined Peaceful Baptist Church in Lynchburg, which was closer to home, and allowed him to be more active in the church. He was elected Superintendent of the Sunday School while still in high school. When he moved to Atlanta, he united with Beulah Baptist Church. He was very active in Beulah and in the surrounding community.

As the oldest of the Johnson children, Lawrence was loved and respected as the "father figure" in the family after the homegoing of Deacon Perno Johnson. The children in the family enjoyed visiting with "Uncle Lawrence" and getting rewards for good grades in school. He maintained links with the extended family and lifelong friends in Lynchburg and Forest by visiting regularly whenever he was in Virginia.

Lawrence leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife of 56 years, Mrs. Marjorie Johnson; his siblings Rosetta Pinder (Charles) of Goodlettsville, TN, Delores Hill of Baltimore, MD; Peronneau Weldon Johnson (Beverly) of Simpsonville, SC; and E. Gaynelle Lipford (Homer) of Lynchburg, VA. (His sister Linda Barrett Turner (Charles) preceded him in death) He leaves brother-in –law Gilbert McCory, Jr. of Baltimore, MD, and sister-in-law Loretta Taylor of Chicago, IL. He leaves the following nephews and nieces: Lee (Jamie) Mauldin, Valerie (Gary) Morris, Michael (Linda) Mauldin, Adrienne (Eric) Oliver, Mark (Patti) Mauldin, Michelle (Larry) Hamlett, Craig Barrett, Ryan (Jenny) Lipford, Cecily Barrett, Christopher (Andria) Barrett, Andrew Lipford, and Jason (Shanetta) Lipford. There are thirteen great nieces and nephews, and four great-great nephews. Lawrence also leaves two uncles, Elijah Jefferson and Joseph Jefferson, and two aunts, Virginia Jefferson and Elizabeth Jefferson, along with a host of cousins, other relatives, and good friends.

A funeral Service will be held 1:00 PM Saturday, June 15, 2013 at Forest Level Baptist Church, with Rev. Phillip Brown, officiating and Rev. Terry W. Echols, Sr. Pastor, as Eulogist. The interment will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 7-8 PM at Davis-Turner Funeral Service. Condolences may be sent to www.Davis-Turner.com. Service of comfort rendered by Davis-Turner Funeral Service.