+ + PROFILE OF RALEIGH'S BELOVED LAWRENCE THOMPSON LIGHTNER + t-
COURTING DATS— Mr. anc!
Mrs. Uwenw Thompson Liffht
ncr are shown hero at North
Carolina College, Durham, dor
in* their courting days. This
photo was taken in 1939. Mrs.
Lightner is the former Miss !t<>-
beria Fair. Mr Lightner sot’-
climbed last Wednesday at 4:SI(
p.m, at Duke Hospital. Durham,
after an illness of a few days
Mrs. Lightner was among Un
persons near his bedside when
he died.
?. ': h -.a . ; £!•
- - **' • ■’ ■
ills DAUGHTER Miss Bar
bara Elaine Lightner. teenage
da ghter of the late Lawrence
T. Lightner, is shown above in
*• recent photograph. Miss Light
ner. an outstanding student at
Hie Ligon Sehoot. attended St.
Monicas Ca'holir Sehoot. she is
pefive jn student affairs at Mg
'in and well ’iked by her frilrnv
students. Hundreds of Miss
Lightner'' rlassmate«. and tea
chers came in the funeral home
on Southfield Street fast Thurs
day and Friday to pay final re
spects to Hie undertaker Many
ttf the students ami teachers
were also seen in the throng of
persons who attended the fun
eral services at the Davie Street
Presbyterian Church, and in
terment at M runt Hope Ceme
tery. Miss Lightner was known
to have had a strong attach
ment for her father. His par
tiruiar interest in her well-be
ing and more-ihup-usual fa
Dierly love, inspired (his after
Doe from her. She is also a mem
I’m- of the Darf« Street Frey hr
Cb«mh, where she is sc
tire ft* *b® work of the Sunday
'• • • ••• ■ •• i • «>f p < i n 1943 |k i •
h&ghtarr. (op the left in back row) Thin club wan i! one time one of the rily'n most popular and was
noted for Its Charitable arts in the community. Severn) other well-known personalities in (hr city arc
jH-cogubrahle is photo.
FAMILY MAN Lawrence
Lightner wa« o family man as is
evidenced i>:- (his photo which
includes his wife and daughter,
Barbara Elaine, who was 3-
years-old at the time. Miss
Lightner, now a teenager, at
tends the .1. H. Llgon Junior-
Senior High School here. This
picture was taken on the side ol
the funeral home, Smithfield
Street.
Street. At the time of this pin
to, Mr. Lightner had not been in
the undertaking busmens ton
long. The funeral home Had i!-
heginning on E. Hargett St ret
where tiie Ilome-Kekers Hotel is
now located. It. has been in the
present spot for about (8 years
La wrence was frequently seen a
bout town with his family—at
athletic events, the movies, vis
iting friends and relatives and
most important of ail—his
church*
WITH URINE BROTHER l ightner, „n the right !» shown
being greeted hv a brother Shriner during a convention In 1949 Wide
If known as a fraternal leader. Law mice was affiliated with the Elite
Mason* and Shrlnem. Several nf the organisations held eo!ogl?De
service* for him last week He was aim a member of lota, lota chap
tor of Omega P*i Phi Fraternity.
JUST STARTING OUT—Law
•nee T Lightner is shown here
near a service station as hr was
iartinq to manage the Lightner
Funeral Home. At fix- time this
iioto was n.'ide it it believed
'hat he whs about 33 years of
me. Lawrence, as shown here,
,va& a familiar figure around
i artous business'*.* *n the city
and country, where he never
iailed to leave the persons in
-ido laughing with his vivid
etise of humor. Man.' persons
hare '.aid: “Lawrence T. Light
iter will he missed around here
for year* to etui#."
gC $0” jjr-
AT ATLANTIC CITY CONVENTION While attending a nior-
Heians convention several year- ago in Atlantic City. New Jersey,
Mr. l ightner (seated) is shown as he and Mr Scarborough of Dur
ham posed for a "fun photo” in the resort vitf,
ON THE JOB l*. T. I ightner i.s - liowt? at Chavis Park rr<“»ritl'
during a baseball game, ready to come to the aid of injured players
if the need arose. Shown in the ambulance are the son*, of his brother,
Clarence l.igrblner. The youths ire Brttee and Lawrence.
"LAWRENCE'
A testimonial in pictures, on this page, presenting the life
of Lawrence Thompson Lightner, would b> mcompteh. with
out u mention of hr. deeds of kindness.
A recent story tells of Lawrence, as he is .familiarly
known, giving a family the entire funeral without charge.
That was not enough . . he went to a neighborhood grocery
and bought $25.00 worth of food and gave that to the needy
family, also. Another recent story that came to our attention
is lhc early morning r*ing of Lawrf.no- during the big snow,
to taxi people to work when cars and buses were at a stand
.still . . . ane| cabs hard to get.
To us. an appropriate summation of Law pi- n- > h A
fellow who was trying to find out which v ay you. w*r«* going
... so he could have Mir pleasure of taking you there.
Hr made himself b< long to cvcryiiody . no matter what
the cost to him . even at the cost of Ins life
WITHOUT YOU!
Without you my heart would b'
A candle unhglded
A window through which « st"
Could never be sighted;
A stone by a glassy <n .
A mirror so dull.
Only shadows w'ould flicker and mat
Without you, my life would H*
In sorrow and darkness.
A dessert with no calm moon
To spangle its “Mr knew.
A highway where no bright #V
Held hope in Us light:
A December and never * June.
Just endless ntghu
. » From Mm Uo\ttvv s § cruphnok
AT BROTHER’S GRADUATION When Clarence Lightner re
ceived his derree from North Carolina College In 1943, tin* entire
family wst on hand to congratulate hhn on (hr oeeasinn. Shown on
the NCC campon, from left to right, arc Calvin IC. Lhjhfhor, Mr->. Mar- i
garet Lightner II a yen, the bile Mrs Mamie IViai kmnn Lightiter and I
the late L. T. Llghinrr. i
. >..y'-'Y?v !i ®ftß^><* < ; : :- ' : : - '■** W* • V v».-. __ >V- • f*.* l^- "’"'
fUS PIiAC'K Of' BUSINESS The Eightner t'uiMral Home which stands ;it .'ll ' Smithfidd Sin
here, was business managed by Eawreiiee Eightner, who succeeded his father, Calvin E. Eightner, is i
manager. Mr. Lightncr devoted most of his time to !,is business and rnnid usually be found there or at
tending to business connected with his institution.
IN \ PARAhK Riding with the Rev. \ j Turner. Ineat minister Wt. S T I ightner is shown driv
ing in a Shrine parade -several years ago. His- Cadillacs were regularly seen in parades siren by local
schools and organisation*,
■ '• < ' . , '*t, ,-*• tfaCTSyfCtf £■ ' ?A*s
FfTNERAii PfRECTORS SfFSßKW—Eightner la shown, ca the front row, kneeling, with severs! sffiw
»r*». fttnera! director* at. » mniab wwal ve»r« aro, 4 siannclt member of several fansrs-l dtreeton*'
gtoHns. Lstp*?>>re was well,known be a,ffilia-tes of the North Carotins Funeral Directors
Also- on the. front row h> tc A- (Doili Hs.vweod, owner of the Ennent Home.
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■ *;/ \ , '•>' »/■'-.-- r > W v * 'w s > -
JACK AND JILL SI PPORTER—L. T. Light ucr was a supporter of the .hick m l Jill Chib. In-,, in
which his wife and daughter held memberships in Ihr club proper and i(s ao%Hic* s , C»\s '); .
higiii ncr is shown on back row. left posing with club members and Ihcir children. This {• i*»»io . ,( i\ ,\
rrrenU> ait the Martin Sirct Uapiisl Church here.
WE CASOUIfUU9
Itffß ENDING BATUBDAT, J ANTI Alt F .11. I ffNO
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