Dr. Benjamin Jones Lawrence, Jr

Benjamin Jones Lawrence, Jr., MD, 83, of Cana, VA passed away Sunday, September 7, 2008, at his home. Dr. Lawrence was born December 11, 1924, in Raleigh, to the late Benjamin Jones Lawrence, Sr., MD, and Carolyn Thomas Lawrence. He graduated from Needham Broughton High School in Raleigh, attended North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina. He received his degree in medicine from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He proudly served our country in the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He served his internship in Charlotte and residency in surgery at Wake Forest North Carolina Baptist University in Winston-Salem, finishing in 1956. He then moved to Mount Airy where he conducted his surgical practice at Northern Hospital of Surry County until his retirement in 1987. He was a 50 year member of the North Carolina Medical Society and also the Wake County and Surry Yadkin Medical Societies. At Northern Surry Hospital, he served as chief of staff and also years on the staff executive committee. He spent time on the Board of Trustees at the hospital. Dr Lawrence was associated with the Surry Heart Association, the Museum of Regional History, and was a rotarian. An avid sports enthusiast, he also found time for his main hobby, model trains. Dr. Lawrence was a lifelong Baptist. He also attended church at First Baptist Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, and Mount Bethel Moravian Church. He is survived by his beloved wife of 22, Gaye Cain Lawrence of the home; a stepson and daughter-in-law of Mount Airy; a son of Henderson; a daughter of Carrboro; a son out of state; eight grandchildren; and a sister and brother-in-law, Betsy Tom and Sam Homewood of Kentwood, VA. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Boyd Cain. A graveside service will be conducted at 11:00 AM Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at Oakdale Cemetery by Rev. Todd E. Byrd. The body will be entombed in the family mausoleum. Full military rites will be conducted by VFW Memorial Honor Guard Post 2019 of Mount Airy and Post 9436 of Pilot Mountain. There will be no formal visitation. A registry book will be available at Moody Funeral Home in Mt. Airy. In lieu of flowers, any memorials may be made to Mount Bethel Moravian Church, 170 Mount Bethel Road, Cana, VA 24317, or Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030. The family would like to express a special thanks to Sabrina McKeithan and Penny Smith for the care given during his illness.