Shirley Lawson
Shirley Lawson, 88, minister of music at Spurgeon Memorial Baptist Church in Norfolk 1971-2001 and spiritual ministry partner of her husband Dr. Paul C. Lawson (Captain, CHC, USNR-Ret.) since they met at Campbellsville Junior College (now University) passed into Eternal Glory on September 19, 2023. Shirley lived and breathed the Bible and religious music. She saw and developed musical potential and self-esteem in many others, among whom was the late Dr. Douglas Mark Crowder. Shirley mentored Doug to sing publicly as a youth, which resulted in his Doctorate in Music from Peabody Institute (Johns Hopkins), after which he taught vocal performance and classical guitar from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania to Mendoza, Argentina. Shirley's post-secondary education started at Campbellsville Junior College, Kentucky, where at the beginning of her sophomore year in 1953 she met her future husband and quickly became his prayer and singing partner, a relationship that would continue through many churches in Kentucky and Virginia. Dr. and Mrs. Lawson set up a Church Music Scholarship in Shirley's name at Campbellsville University more than 20 years ago, and a grateful university awarded her Bachelor of Science diploma in 2020. The ministry duet moved to Tidewater in 1967 when Paul became a Navy chaplain, which he continued as a reservist until 1994. After 30 years of service at Spurgeon, Shirley supported Paul in interim ministries in Portsmouth, Hampton and Newport News. Shirley had been in home hospice for abdominal cancer and dementia for 17 months but continued to play her beloved piano at home until 2 months before her death. Shirley was the younger child of Vivian (Moss) Strader and Clifford Strader of Campbellsville, who lost their older child when Shirley was an infant. She is survived by her husband, his sister Charline Akins of Elizabethtown, KY, her son Paul Stephen (Kathy), and her three grandchildren Shaun, Chloe, and Devon.
Visitation will be 10-11am this Saturday, September 23, followed by funeral service at 11am, both at Graham Funeral Home, 1112 Kempsville Rd, Chesapeake.