Thomas 'Tommy' Benton Lawrence

Obituary Thomas "Tommy" Benton Lawrence, 66, of Marshallberg, passed away on Sunday, October 13, 2019 at Carteret Health Care of Morehead City. Tommy was the first child born on May 14, 1953 to Dorothy and ET Lawrence. From childhood until his death, he was a social butterfly who never met a stranger. Tommy touched many lives with his kindness and smile, everyone who knew him loved him. Growing up, and until he was no longer able to attend, Tommy was a member of the Marshallberg Missionary Baptist Church and took great pride in taking up the collection offering every Sunday for many, many years. Tommy loved his church family dearly and never missed a Sunday unless he was sick. Tommy attended the Station Club in Morehead City daily, where he got to participate in many activities and made many friends along the way. In his final years, Tommy lived at Carteret Landing Assisted Living Facility in Morehead City. There, you could find him each morning, and throughout the day, sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch greeting all who came into the facility with a smile and hello. Tommy came to be known to staff and visitors alike as the Carteret Landing greeter. While living at Carteret Landing, Tommy enjoyed many activities offered from trips to local restaurants to outings visiting local attractions such as the NC Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores. A favorite outing of Tommys was being the personal tour guide on a trip to Marshallberg where he was able to share his hometown with friends from Carteret Landing who joined him for a picnic at the "end of the road". It was riding on these trips throughout the county that Tommy met his best friend, Mr. Dennis Pennington, a staff member of Carteret Landing. Tommy lived a full and happy life, enjoying his time making new friends and impacting lives in ways in which he likely never knew. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday at the Marshallberg Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Randy Moore officiating. The family will receive friends at the church the hour prior to the service. A private burial will take place at a later date at Though the Woods Cemetery in Marshallberg. He is survived by his sister, Cheryl Ann Lawrence of Marshallberg; two brothers, James Elvin Lawrence of Marshallberg; Kevin Lee Lawrence of Marshallberg; four nieces, Sue Anne Lewis of Durham; Jessica Rose Lawrence of Davis; Mallory Brooke Lawrence of Marshallberg; Caroline McKenzie Lawrence of Marshallberg; great niece, Kinsley Rose Spaid of Davis; great nephew, Jayden Christopher Spaid of Davis; two aunts, Merita Eubanks of Marshallberg; Diane Guthrie of Gloucester; uncle, Phillip Golden of Otway, and many Cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elijah "ET" and Dorothy Lawrence; grandmother, Lucille Golden and grandfather, Benton Lawrence. Flowers are welcome or donations may be made to: Marshallberg Missionary Baptist Church, PO Box 189, Marshallberg, NC 28553 or to the Station Club, 306 Church St, Morehead City, NC 28557. Electronic condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noefs.org Arrangements by Noe Funeral Service, Inc. of Beaufort, NC. Services Visitation Saturday October 19, 2019 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM Marshallberg Baptist Church 1043 Marshallberg Rd, Marshallberg, NC 28553 Marshallberg, NC 28553 Funeral Service Saturday October 19, 2019 11:00 AM Marshallberg Baptist Church 1043 Marshallberg Rd, Marshallberg, NC 28553 Marshallberg, NC 28553