Sunney S. Lawrence, 69, of Salem, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 19, 2019, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He was born on September 14, 1950, in Baroda, India to the late Samuel H. and Sumati S. Lawrence. His first wife, Sharda S. Lawrence, preceded him in death. Mr. Lawrence immigrated with his family to the United States in 2006 and with great determination worked tirelessly, diligently and without complaint both day and night to give his children the opportunity to pursue academic excellence in order to selflessly provide the very best for those he loved most. Even though his first language was not English, he became a man of the community who immersed himself in a new culture that was not his own. He joined Salem Baptist Church and became an active member, serving the congregation as a Deacon. As a man of honor and integrity, he carried those virtues throughout his life and instilled those characteristics in his children, leading by example. Above all, he was a husband, father and friend who had a larger than life personality. Mr. Lawrence is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Chhaya S. Lawrence and three children, Sophia Oliver (Sunit), of Alpharetta, Ga., Scott Lawrence (Priyal) of Salem, Va. and Shawn Lawrence (Aakansha), of Salem, Va., as well as grandchildren, Simran and Sunita Oliver, of Alpharetta, Ga. He also leaves behind a brother, Januel Lawrence (Jenny), of India, sisters Hasumati Parmar (Solomon), of Torrington, Conn., Angelina Jones (Kamal), of India and Cynthia Daniel (Basil), of Canada.
Funeral services to honor Mr. Lawrence’s life will be conducted on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 10 a.m. at Salem Baptist Church with Pastor’s Everett Kier, Tom Clark, Solomon Parmar and Dr. Heath Rickmond officiating. Interment will follow at East Hill Cemetery in Salem. Friends may call on the family from 9 a.m. until time of service on Wednesday at the church.
The family would like to thank the staff of both the Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, the University of Virginia Hospital and the Emily Couric Cancer Care Center for their compassionate Care for Mr. Lawrence and his family.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.