James William Lawson

James 'Jay' Lawson, 79, 1714 Persinger Drive, Watauga, died Monday, October 16, 2006 at his residence. Mr. Lawson was a native and lifelong resident of Washington County. He was a son of the late Willard G. and Ethel Smith Lawson and was also preceded in death by one daughter, Lorie Ann Arnett and one sister, Margaret Carver. Mr. Lawson retired from Rinker Materials, formerly American Limestone Company. He was a member of Day of Deliverance Revival Center and sang with the Riverside Fore Quartet. Survivors include his wife, Verda Vance Lawson, of the home; four sons, Steve Lawson, Piney Flats, Benny Lawson, Watauga, Robert Lawson, Jonesborough and Jimmy Vance; seven daughters, Barbara 'Susan? Frost, Johnson City, Janet Head, Harmon, VA, Sonia Asher, Elizabethton, Yvonne Shelton, Jonesborough, Debra Freeman, Watauga, Diane Phillips, Stoney Creek and Teresa Story, Watauga; four sisters, Betty Greene, Bristol, TN, Dott Archer, Helen Hollinger and Alice Merritt all of Johnson City; twenty-nine grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. A funeral service for Mr. Lawson will be conducted at 8 PM Friday, October 20, 2006 from the Morris-Baker Funeral Home North Chapel. Reverend Dewey Ward will officiate. Special music will be provided by Brian Lothery, Teresa Wallin and Nadine Pressley. Graveside services will be held at 11 AM Saturday at Washington County Memory Gardens. Chaplain Doug Hinshaw will officiate. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the funeral home at 10:30 AM and travel in procession to the cemetery. Friends will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Friday at the funeral home.