FACE COVERINGS ARE STILL REQUIRED TO ENTER THE FUNERAL HOME!!!!!!

Funeral service will be 12:00 Noon on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at Shaw Funeral Home.  Burial will follow in Calvary Memorial Cemetery.  Visitation will be 6:00 P.M. on Friday at the funeral home.  Elder Lawrence Edward Down was born on February 28, 1961, to the late Evelyn and Julian Robinson Dowd Sr.  God called him home, and he entered eternal rest on November 12, 2023, at North Chase Rehabilitation Center.  Lawrence was educated in the New Hanover County School System.  After graduation Lawrence worked as a relocation specialist for North American Van Lines for 20 years.  He enjoyed many years of traveling on the road and working alongside his brother Julian, and close friend Raymond Nixon.  He had a good time exploring the world and would always talk about the many states he visited with his daughter, Lateisha. One of the most important periods of Lawrence's life was when he rededicated his life back to Christ and joined New Covenant Holiness Church. While there, he was active in the men's ministry, and sang on the men's choir.  God would eventually call him into ministry, and he would be ordained as a church elder.  On May 4, 2014, Elder Dowd would join Union Missionary Baptist Church, where he transferred as an Elder.  He was very active in the men's choir, and the men's fellowship "Men that Matter."  He would go on to attend and graduate from North Carolina Theological Seminary School with an associate degree in biblical studies on June 4, 2016.  Elder Dowd loved the Lord and spread his word every chance he got.  He was always willing to help and pray for others, especially if they were sick.  Lawrence loved his family, especially his daughters, his only sister, and grandchildren.  Just the mention of their names would bring a big smile to his face.  He was well known in the community, often called by his nickname "School Boy".  He didn't meet any strangers.  Everybody was his cousin, and I mean everybody!  His infectious smile and sense of humor drew people close and made him a beloved figure in the community.  The simplest pleasures brought great joy to Lawrence.  He had an uncanny ability to find happiness in everything.  His favorite pastime was watching the Dallas Cowboys, especially during playoff time.  He was preceded in death by his daughter Lakeisha Dowd and his brothers Julian Dowd Jr., and Benjamin Hunter. He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter Lateisha Dowd-Williams (Jerry); his brothers John Dowd (Sharon), and David Dowd; his sister Deborah Ann Dowd; his sister-in-law Helen Autry Dowd; his grandchildren, Serenity Dowd-McCrea, Kimauri Laughlin, Kingston Williams, and Karmen Williams; and a host of other relatives and friends. Lawrence was a real people person.  To know him was to love him, and he will truly be missed by all that knew and loved him, but we know, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord!  He is at peace now in the arms of God!