Albert Burl LAWSON (VETERAN 2 WARS)

MEDICAL CORPSMAN MASTER CHIEF US Navy
Korea
Vietnam
February 19, 1932 - November 27, 2020

Albert Burl Lawson son of William Albert "W.A Lawson and Lura Pauline (Helms) Lawson.

*obituary
Albert “Burl” Lawson
February 19, 1932 - November 27, 2020

Burl was born and raised in the communities of Lynn and Strawberry, Arkansas under the parentage of W.A. and Lura Lawson. He grew up in a world influenced by hard work and the religious faith of the Church of Christ. He developed his life-long sense of humor and early understanding of life along with an older brother, Onus, that he credited with keeping him humble. He also had two amazing sisters, Lucille and Helen, that nurtured him into his high school years.

Never much of a competitive athlete or outdoor sportsman, Burl chose to see the world and serve the greater good by enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He fought for freedom in two wars with tours of duty in Korea and Vietnam as a medical corpsman and eventually a diagnostic medical equipment mechanic (bio-medical engineer in today’s parlance). He often referred to himself as an x-ray repairman. After 21 ½ years, he retired from the navy having attained the rank of Master Chief. He worked in civilian life as the Director of Maintenance and Renovation for Methodist Hospital in Memphis, TN.

As Burl loved his country, he also loved his family. He was father to two biological children, Gary, a United Methodist minister and ordained Elder, and Cindi, a registered nurse, who along with her husband, Dr. Joseph Weinstein, managed his health care throughout his retirement years. He was proud of his very large family and often counted off with pride their number and accomplishments.

In his retired years he fell in love with Bonnie Self, whom he referred to as his true soul mate. Through an unfortunate series of circumstance, they began caring for Bonnie’s great granddaughter, TeeJ Summers. After Bonnie’s death and the surprising death of TeeJ’s grandmother, Burl spend his last 20 years raising TeeJ. She, along with her 5-year-old son, Kaden, became his world and source of strength for dealing with aging and its trials. His two children and TeeJ were able to spend meaningful hours with him, despite COVID restrictions, as he said goodbye to this life and placed himself into the arms of the God of Grace.

Albert Burl Lawson loved his church and the Hoxie Church of Christ family. As one who became the oldest member of the congregation, he often stood ready with a scripture or word for the wise. When visiting his children, he would always arise before dawn to travel home on Sunday to teach his Sunday School class. Prior to the risk and restrictions of COVID, he was always at home on the second pew, ready to correct the preacher if he needed help.

His loved his country, his family, God, and his church. If would be wrong, however, if we concluded this story with saying that he also loved the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arkansas Razorbacks. If you dropped in for a visit while one of them was on the TV, he would proudly invite you to join in watching the game.

Rest in Peace Dad, Papaw, Grandpa and Uncle Burl - Child of God.

Graveside services will be Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 2 P.M. in the Old Lebanon Cemetery near Lynn with Bill Wheeler officiating.

Pallbearers will be Grandsons: Bobby Lawson, Gary Lawson, Jr, Jered Weinstein, Ryan Dacus, Ben Hampton and a Nephew; Greg Hutsell.

Visitation will be Monday evening from 6 P.M. till 8 P.M. at the Hoxie Church of Christ.

In lieu of flowers, Burl would love for memorials to be sent to his beloved home church:
Hoxie Church of Christ, 603 SW Broad St, Hoxie, AR 72433

Obituary provided courtesy of Bryan Funeral Home Hoxie, Lawrence County, Arkansas. Published 28 Nov 2020

Photo will be replaced once monument is placed. dgb

Contributed on 12/13/20 by denise.bratcher63
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Record #: 1355612

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