Art Lawrence Obituary (1957 - 2021)

Joseph Arthur "Art" Lawrence, Jr., 64, passed away on Friday, May 21, 2021, at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. He is survived by his wife, Mary "Elaine" Wallace Lawrence; 'brothers', Cal Tenhet, Jr. and Robert Tenhet; and 'sister', Sharon Tenhet Willett; as well as numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved like his own. Art was born on May 18, 1957, in Cumberland County (Spring Lake) to the late Joseph Arthur Lawrence, Sr. and Shirley Watkins Johnson. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Martha Hilburn Lawrence (June 27, 1985), his daughter, Angel Evonne Lawrence (April 20, 1996), and uncle and aunt, Cal and Louise Tenhet. Art attended Pine Forest High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina until his junior year, when his mother was transferred in her work to Alabama, where he graduated from Butler High School in Huntsville in 1975. He returned to Spring Lake and married Martha Hilburn in April, 1979 and had a daughter, Angel, that same year. He worked for the Spring Lake Fire Department, eventually earning the position of Deputy Chief, and later became a Sheriff's Deputy in both Durham and Cumberland Counties; eventually becoming a member of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department SWAT Team. At the time of his death he was employed by Ferguson Enterprises. He was an active member of Spring Lake First Baptist Church and, later, Eutaw United Church of Christ. His uncle, Cal Tenhet, fostered his love of sports from an early age from Recreation ball to High School. His involvement in sports continued as he joined his uncle coaching little league baseball and football for the Spring Lake and Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Departments. From coaching, he moved to officiating where he found his true joy. Even at the time of his death he was an active High School Football official. He never met a stranger and was a great friend to many. He was an avid hunter, loved camping with his family and always had a joke to share. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, June 12, 2021, at 2:00 PM at Spring Lake First Baptist Church. A visitation for family and friends will be held prior to the service from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.adcockfuneralandcrematory.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to 'Eutaw United Church of Christ Memorial and Gifts' in memory of Art. Services entrusted to Adcock Funeral Home and Crematory, Spring Lake.