Wilbur Preston “Sonny” Lawrence

Friday, June 8, 2018

Wilbur Preston “Sonny” Lawrence, longtime resident of Mobile, Alabama, passed away peacefully of natural causes in his nursing home located in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

Preston was the oldest of nine children, the son of Louise Knipple Lawrence and Robert Preston Lawrence of Blytheville. In addition to his parents, Preston was preceded in death by one brother, Larry Lawrence of Blytheville. He is survived by Ann Doggett Lawrence, his wife of over 45 years, five children including Terry Lawrence of Mobile, Tim Lawrence of Mobile, Bradley Lawrence of Daphne, Alabama, Connie Easterling of Francestown, New Hampshire, and Chris Lawrence of Canton, Georgia, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Preston is also survived by seven of his remaining siblings, Robert Lawrence of Springville, Tennessee, Margrett Dixon of Jonesboro, David Lawrence of Blytheville, Faye Pate of Blytheville, Kay Muir of Jonesboro, Glen Lawrence of Blytheville, and Peggy Meatte of Blytheville.

Preston loved fishing but loved eating fish even more. He had a passion for cars, working on, buying, selling, bartering, driving, and talking about them. He could name any make, model, and the year it was made. He was equally comfortable making a living from using his hands or his wits and intelligence, having careers from selling door-to-door products to car sales, winning awards and trips to far off places, to finishing up his working days building and remodeling homes through his company, Lawrence Construction that spanned over 15 years. He cherished “Cousin Camp” when his grandchildren would spend a month with him every summer. He loved taking them fishing and cleaning fish for hours. Every Fourth of July, he enjoyed his family reunion in Arkansas where he was known as “Sonny”. Preston was one of those people that could figure anything out, a jack of all trade, whether it was filing his personal and business taxes or building an 80’ pier in Mobile Bay for a client, he inherently and patiently knew how to simplify any project or task and do it right.

Preston’s remaining wishes were to be cremated and his ashes spread into Mobile Bay via the Dog River Bridge. A date and time for this event will be determined at a later date.