Sparky Lawrence

Augusta, GA – Marguerite Sparks “Sparky” Lawrence passed away at her home in Augusta on Friday, August 28, 2015, after battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for the third time over the last 16 years. She was the loving mother of three children: Suzanne Chandler (Cary) of Augusta, Bud Lawrence (Lisa) of Augusta, and Robyn Watson of Birmingham, Alabama. She is survived by her devoted sister, Jessica Sparks, of Augusta. She will be greatly missed by her beloved grandchildren: Mary Lawrence Gibson (Mac); Chapple, Scott and Betsy Chandler; Luke and Jack Lawrence; Will and Andrew Watson; and her great-granddaughter, Molly Kate Martin. She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Frank Joseph Lawrence, and her parents Enoch Sparks of Huntsville, Alabama, and Dorothy Ryall of Davenport, Iowa.

Mrs. Lawrence was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland on January 19, 1944. She graduated from Huntsville High School, where she was an honor student, cheerleader and member of the homecoming court. She attended the University of Chattanooga on an academic scholarship, where she was a cheerleader and member of the Dean’s List.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Lawrence enjoyed helping others and loved sports. She was a competitive swimmer and diver as a teenager, and she taught swimming lessons to disabled children as a young adult. She coached softball and enjoyed playing tennis. She helped her husband in his efforts for The Hale House in Augusta. She was initiated into Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity and enjoyed helping each year with Recruitment at Auburn University.

Prior to their move to Augusta in 1991, the Lawrences resided in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, where Mrs. Lawrence was Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Board. Mrs. Lawrence was a member of the Birmingham Civiettes. She and her family were members of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. She was presented a Key to the City of Vestavia Hills for her outstanding service to the city. From Vestavia Hills, the Lawrence family moved to Gadsden, Alabama, where Mrs. Lawrence worked as a realtor and was Realtor of the Year and a Million Dollar Club realtor for several years.

Mrs. Lawrence and her late husband, Frank, were the owners of Bobby Jones Ford-Lincoln in Augusta. Mrs. Lawrence, an avid collector of antique furniture and art, also owned an antiques business, Antiques a la Carte, for many years. She was a member of Stevens Creek Community Church, Augusta Country Club and Highlands Country Club in Highlands, North Carolina.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 30, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at Platt’s Funeral Home West in Evans with Pastor Marty Baker officiating. Pallbearers include Tom Bailey, Marshall Brown, Jack Hodges, Scott Klosinski, E.G. Meybohm, Gene Neal, Ed Perry and Garry Wright.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the funeral home, prior to the memorial service.

Interment will be in Westover Memorial Park in Augusta on Monday, August 31, at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Stevens Creek Community Church Building Fund (stevenscreekchurch.com) or the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation (alphagammadelta.org/agdfoundation).