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Lawrence Johnson Caison

Lawrence Johnson Caison

Male 1926 - 2012  (86 years)

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  • Name Lawrence Johnson Caison  [1, 2, 3
    Birth 3 Apr 1926  Roseboro, Sampson, North Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4
    Gender Male 
    Residence 3 Apr 1944  Florida Military Academy, St Petersburg, Pinellas, Florida, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Residence 1993  Clinton, Sampson, North Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Death 23 Sep 2012  Clinton, Sampson, North Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Lawrence Caison, 86, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 23, 2012. Son of the late Fred and Bettie Caison, he was born in Roseboro, NC and was a lifelong resident of Clinton, NC.

      He was preceded in death by his brothers, Hillary and Fred Caison and sisters, Kitty Morisey and Mildred Parker.

      He is remembered with love and affection by his wife of 58 years, Rebecca Kirkland Caison; his sister, Betty Gene Best; his children Lawrence Johnson Caison, Jr. (Laura) of Raleigh, Nancy Caison Moore (Kent) of Charlotte and Lucille Caison Sossaman (Alex) of Raleigh. Granddaddy will be missed by Mary Cameron, John and Kirkland Caison, Katherine (Michael), William and Caison Moore and Benjamin, Lauren, Anna and Will Sossaman. He is also survived by many nephews and nieces, as well as, other cherished family members.

      Lawrence attended Clinton City Schools, Florida Military Academy and Florida Southern College where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. After serving in the Navy, he joined Caison Brothers Building Supply with his two brothers. Later, he became a partner in Hargrove’s Men Shop and Quick Way Stores and started Caison Family Mart. His entrepreneurial spirit always kept him active acquiring, improving and managing real estate.

      The Clinton community was dear to him. In 1977 he was elected to the Clinton City Council and served six consecutive terms through 2001. As a council member he was known for his sense of fairness and ability to build consensus. He served the Lion’s Club as Treasurer and in 2003 was named Lion of the Year. In 2004 he received the Jack Stickley Fellow Award, the organization’s highest honor. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church.

      His greatest joy was spending time with his family. In 1954 he married Becky, a school teacher from Durham, NC. They raised their three children on Parker Drive where his two brothers, Hillary and Fred and sister, Mildred also built their homes and raised their families. Sisters Kitty and Betty Gene and their families were always close by. Rarely did a week go by without the family gathering at someone’s home to enjoy a meal together. In 1971 he bought an old cottage and tract of land at White Lake where he had spent time as a young boy. Along with a few others, he developed Village 12 which became the home for the family’s annual “Camp SosCaiMor” for many years and continues to be a fun place to make memories.

      He leaves a legacy of faithfulness, devotion and provision for his children and grandchildren.

      A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 2:00 pm at First United Methodist Church in Clinton with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.

      http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/09/24/2365473/lawrence-j-caison.html
    Person ID I5242  tng Genealogy

    Father Frederick Anderson Caison,   b. 25 Nov 1877, Sampson, North Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Sep 1937, Sampson, North Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 59 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Bettie Pauline Johnson,   b. 25 Dec 1892, North Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Nov 1979, Clinton, Sampson, North Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 86 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Marriage 28 Jan 1912  Sampson, North Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F2082  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Living 
    Children 
    +1. Living
    +2. Living
    +3. Living
    Family ID F2086  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 3 Apr 1926 - Roseboro, Sampson, North Carolina, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1993 - Clinton, Sampson, North Carolina, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 23 Sep 2012 - Clinton, Sampson, North Carolina, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Lawrence Johnson Caison Sr photo
    Lawrence Johnson Caison Sr photo

  • Notes 
    • Friends say long-time councilman's life was one of service
      by Chris Berendt
      Staff Writer
      clintonnc.com 25 Sep 2012

      Family, friends and colleagues are grieving the loss of longtime Clinton City Councilman Lawrence Caison, who passed away peacefully Sunday at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of service to community, dedication to hometown and love for family.

      Born in Roseboro, Caison was a lifelong resident of Clinton. He served nearly a quarter century on the Clinton City Council, a 24-year span that stretched from his election in Dec. 6, 1977 to Dec. 4, 2001. In addition to his accomplishments over that six-term period on the Council, Caison was an established local entrepreneur and a known family man, many said.

      "He was a very, very good man," said Clinton Mayor Lew Starling. "I'd like to say I knew him all his life, but he knew me all my life. I was a friend of Mr. Caison's; I shopped with him at his stores and observed him on the City Council and reviewed his work. He was always a very active member of the City Council."

      Mr. Caison's private life was centered on his family and work as a partner or owner at Caison Brothers Building Supply, Hargrove's Men Shop, Quick Way Stores and Caison Family Mart. He was a devoted member of the Lions Club, serving the group as treasurer. In 2003, he was selected as Lion of the Year and, in 2004, received the Jack Stickley Fellow Award, the organization's highest honor.

      Caison attended Clinton City Schools, Florida Military Academy and Florida Southern College where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. After serving in the Navy, he joined Caison Brothers Building Supply with his two brothers. An entrepreneur at heart, Caison was constantly active in acquiring, improving and managing real estate.

      He was also active in looking after his community. As a council member, he took great interest in the wide spectrum of city affairs.

      "Mr. Caison was dedicated to the city, took a great interest in it and always was a true steward of the taxpayers money," Starling said. "The recent successes of our community can be directly attributed to his service on the City Council and building a good foundation for the town."

      Among the notable accomplishments during Caison's tenure on the City Council, he was directly involved with the expansion of Clinton City Hall to include a new administrative wing; the purchase and renovation of both the Wall Street Fire Station and the current Police Department facility; as well as the construction of the Bellamy Center at Royal Lane Park.

      Pete Connet, who served as city manager from 1972 to 1984, said Caison gave all his efforts to the city of Clinton and working closely with staff in his Council capacity.

      "I was manager when he was elected," said Connet. "He was a very honest person and always supportive of staff and what we were trying to do. He was very forward-thinking and just a great guy to work with. He was always willing to help and I know he gave his all to the Council."

      Former city manager Tommy Combs agreed. While Connet worked with Caison during his first couple terms on the Council, Combs was manager for the bulk of Caison's time on the board.

      "Lawrence was always a very active City Council member and took great interest in the affairs of the city," said Combs, who served 20 years as manager, including 17 years with Caison, from 1984 to 2001. "He had a real interest in the town and was easy to work with, and was very thorough in his decision-making. If he needed additional information to make a decision, he would ask for it."

      Even after their time serving the city, Combs said he kept in contact with Caison through the years and would visit him from time to time. He said he would hold very fond memories of Caison, who he noted made his community proud.

      "Lawrence cared a great deal about Clinton and it was a great pleasure to have served with him during my days as the Clinton city manager," said Combs. "He was a fine man."

      In honor of Caison's service on City Council, all flags were being flown at half-mast on Monday and Tuesday. A lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Clinton, Caison will also be memorialized in a service set for 2 p.m. today (Tuesday). Family visitation will follow the service.

      Caison is survived by his wife of 58 years, Rebecca Kirkland Caison and their children, Lawrence Johnson Caison Jr. of Raleigh, Nancy Caison Moore of Charlotte and Lucille Caison Sossaman of Raleigh, as well as his 10 grandchildren.

      Caison married Becky, a school teacher from Durham, in 1954. They raised their three children on Parker Drive, where Caison's two brothers and one of his three sisters also built homes and raised their families. Rarely did a week go by without some sort of family gathering, no surprise for a man who cherished family.

      Caison's death comes on the heels of longtime mayor Emsley Kennedy's passing just last month and former Councilman and longtime employee Joe Best's in April.

      "It's been a tough year for those folks who knew and worked with the people who were on the old City Council," said Connet. Caison himself recognized that fact during two separate conversations with The Independent this year.

      Caison spoke just last month on the occasion of Kennedy's passing, acknowledging a man with whom he served 24 years. Months earlier, he similarly shared his thoughts about Best, a colleague to whom he was related through marriage.

      He shared kind words for both men, praising their dedication and intellect during years of well-respected service to the community, as well as their strong commitment to family. The city of Clinton was fortunate to have them, he said.

      Now, many are sharing the same sentiment about Caison.

      "He was a very well-respected businessman, a great family man and just a solid citizen in every regard," Starling said. "This is a great loss to the city."

      Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137 ext. 121 or via email at sicrime@heartlandpublications.com.
      http://www.clintonnc.com/view/full_story/20256182/article-Friends-say-long-time-councilman%E2%80%99s-life-was-one-of-service

  • Sources 
    1. [S342] Ancestry.com, North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000, (Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2005;).
      North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000 North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina.

    2. [S396] Ancestry.com, U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;), Database online.
      Record for Lawrence J Caison

    3. [S462] Ancestry.com, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1898-1929, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011;).
      The National Archives Southeast Region; Atlanta, GA; Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975; Record Group: RG 147; Class: RG147, North Carolina World War II Draft Registration Cards; Box Number: 57.
      http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=YMDraftCardsWWII&h=1625673&indiv=try
      [ View military document]
      http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=YMDraftCardsWWII&h=1625673&indiv=try

    4. [S293] Ancestry.com, U.S. Public Records Index, (Name: Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2009;).
      Ancestry.com. U.S. Public Records Index [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005.