Those who served with Henry Lawson during his 12-plus years on Summerton Town Council didn’t always see eye-to-eye with the 85-year-old Summerton native.
But they always knew he wanted the best for the town’s residents.
“I admired him deeply for his stand on things,” said Councilwoman Ellen Ardis. “We both had respect for each other. We didn’t always agree, but I knew he was working for the good of Summerton.”
Lawson died Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. It was his birthday.
“Mr. Henry really had the best interest of this community on his heart,” said former Mayor Jay Bruner. “It was always clear to me that his sole desire was to see Summerton continue to grow.”
Lawson first came to council in 1998 as a write-in candidate. He served until 2010, when he was unseated by first-time candidate Terrance Tindal. When former Councilman Seth Stewart resigned in 2011, Lawson filed for the seat.
He said then that he had mixed emotions about his loss in 2010.
“When I had to leave council that time, I just felt like there was so much more I could do,” he said. Lawson ultimately served a second time until May 2012, after being unseated a second time by Councilwoman Loretta Pollard.
A 1946 graduate of Scott’s Branch High School, Lawson attended Allen University in Columbia. He was the owner of a towing service and auto mechanic shop in Summerton.
He was a son of the late Edisto and Eliza Walters Lawson, and the husband of Faye Smith Lawson.
The family will receive friends at the home of his daughter, Kathleen Lawson Gibson, 4 Mayland Drive in Summerton.
Services will be announced by Fleming & DeLaine Funeral Home and Chapel of Manning.
