Lawrence Calaway Clark Jr.

Lawrence Calaway Clark, Jr. was the first born from the union of Lawrence C. Clark (L.C.) and Mary E. Joseph on May 19, 1947. He lived in the Channel Heights area of Wilmington, CA for the first four years of his life with his parents and younger brother, William. L.C. and Mary purchased a home in Compton, CA in 1951 and moved their young family to 1210 W. 134th Pl.

 As the oldest of ten children, Lawrence accepted the responsibilities with brotherly love in caring for his siblings. Lawrence honed his athletic skills playing football, basketball, and baseball under the coaching and guidance of his father. Basketball was Lawrence's favorite sport. He attended Fermin Lasuen High School in San Pedro and graduated in 1965. 

Lawrence received a four-year basketball scholarship to Long Beach State University. He was an outstanding shooting guard. In his sophomore year, He met the love of his life, Hazael Lee Jackson, on campus. They were married on Sunday, September 14, 1969 at Saint Leo's Catholic Church in Watts, California. They both continued their educational goals, while Lawrence worked part-time at the American Can Company in San Pedro. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in history in 1970. He was employed by Long Beach Unified School District as a history/math instructor. He was a dedicated teacher known for his kind, fun and innovative spirit of teaching his students. Lawrence was a history teacher to the core. His long career of 34 years included teaching at College Intermediate School (CIS), Bret Harte Elementary School (LB), Mary Butler school, and Lindberg Middle School. 

Lawrence furthered his studies at Long Beach University and received his Masters Degree in Educational Administration in 2002. He later became assistant principal at Lindberg middle school. Lawrence enjoys cultivating roses and other plants, doing masonry work in his homes, a skill he inherited from his father. He enjoyed bowling, playing tennis, 5K runs, camping and fishing with his family and friends. He also loved playing the flute, listening to jazz, especially Coltrane and grooving to the Isley Brothers and The Temptations. Lawrence was also an avid Laker fan and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. After retiring and moving to Arizona in 2007 he filled his free time with traveling with his grandchildren in his RV, reading, playing bingo and bunco. 

Preceding him in death by his son baby Clark, his parents Lawrence and Mary Clark, brothers Thaddeus, John and William. He leaves to celebrate and cherish his memory his wife Hazael of 55 ½ years; Children: Charles Ray Anderson (Cassandra), Rashaan (Danielle), Kareem (Amber). Grandchildren: April, Kareem Jr., Amberlee, Kanye, Jaylen, Kendall, Trey, and great granddaughter Anecia. Lawrence also leaves behind four brothers: James (Barbara) Kenny (Keva), Maurice (Paula), Marion, (Victoria); two sisters, Marla Clark Sanders, and Candice Clark. James, (Gary). Sisters- law Sue Carol Black and  Beverly Clark, brother-in-law Eugene Jackson (Bernice), and a host of nieces, nephews, great nephews and nieces, cousins, Our Lady of Guadalupe food bank friends, Saving Grace church family, Queen Creek senior program and friends from couples bunco/bingo group.