Deacon Lawrence Monroe Tanner, Sr. the fifth of seven children of the late Charlie W. and Mary Doss Tanner was called to his eternal rest on Thursday morning, May 9, 2019.  He was born on July 20, 1930 in Spout Spring, VA and attended Appomattox County Public Schools and graduated from the Carver High School in 1950.

After marrying Annie R. Harvey of Spout Spring, VA the couple, like many young couples who married in the early 1950's migrated north to find work with daughter, Mary Ann, they settled in Baltimore, MD, where their other five children; Lawrence, Jr., Emma Jean, Demaris (Chantay, Sonya and Timothy were born.

Upon moving to Baltimore in the early 50's Lawrence, life the many native sons of Appomattox, found employment with Bethleham Steel Company of Sparrows Point, MD, where he worked as a crane operator for over forty 40 years.

In the search of a church to worship in Baltimore, Lawrence and family found Friendship Baptist Church to meet their needs.  He served as president of the Usher Board Ministry for many years.

Lawrence was invited to join the Dundalk, MD, Auxiliary Police Force, also called special police, who were part time volunteers that made up a reserve force.  Lawrence and his friends served out of a sense of civic duty at school sporting events and county and community events.

After retirement in 1993, the family left Baltimore, MD and returned to make their home in their native town, Spout Spring, VA where he and his wife took time and great pride spending time with family and friends.

Lawrence was a faithful and active member of MSBC where he served as Sunday School Superintendent, Trustee of Usher Board, Choir Member, Chairman of Deacon Board and was Elected and served as Father of the Church of MSBC.  Deacon Tanner had what could be described as "Special Hands" for fixing things.  He spent countless hours inside of his Baltimore neighbors' homes and on the grounds of his MSBC.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents, the late Charlie W. and Mary Doss Tanner; his wife, Annie H. Tanner; son, Lawrence M. Tanner, Jr.; two daughters, Emma J. Green and Mary Ann Tanner; sister, Margaret Tanner Paige; four brothers, Nathaniel, Fred, Charlie-Ed and Daniel Tanner.

He leaves to cherish his love and memories two daughters, Demaris Chantay Tanner, of Spout Spring, VA and Sonya R. Tanner, of Baltimore, MD; a son, Timothy B. Tanner, of Spout Spring, VA; a brother, J. McKinley Tanner; brother-in-law, Robert W. Harvey and Wife (Shelley); sister-in-law, Thelma J. Tanner all of Spout Spring, VA; grandson, Pharod Blackman (Fiancée Shronda Mosley) who Lawrence and his wife Annie Ruth raised as their own son; grandchildren, Dottrele, William, Kyrana, Nicola and Tremayne all of Baltimore, MD; Nikkah and Tonisha (Elvis), of Richmond, VA; Shydasha, of Spout Spring, VA; ten great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and many other nieces, nephews, cousins and moreover a devoted niece and caregiver, Geneva Reed Napier is a standard among the host of loving, devoted family members and friends.