He was a native of Spartanburg County, S.C., son of the late Albert Dewey and Iva Mae Lawson and husband of the late Alice Monteith Lawson.

Lawson was a member of East Baptist Church. He retired from Duke Power with 38 years of service. He was a member of Lowell Masonic Lodge #590 AF & AM.

Survivors include his sons, James Edward Lawson, Jr., of Belmont, N.C., Ronald Wayne Lawson of Denver, N.C.; daughters, Patricia Lawson Miller of Clover, S.C., Linda Jane Bramlett of Seneca, S.C.; brothers, Bill Lawson and Gene Lawson of Campobello; sisters, Frances Dickinson of Cowpens, S.C., Mildred Williams of Spartanburg, S.C., Martha Morrow of Boiling Springs, S.C., Joyce Alexander of Campobello; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a sister, Rebecca Lawson.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 at McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 13, 2009 at East Baptist Church with Pastor Tim Parker officiating. Interment will follow in Gaston Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to East Baptist Church, 114 North Church Street, Gastonia, N.C. 28054 or Lowell Masonic Lodge #590 AF & FM, P.O. Box 66, Lowell, N.C. 28098.

Condolences may be sent to www.mcleanfuneral.com.

McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia is serving the family.