Thomas Joseph Lawrence's Obituary
Thomas Joseph Lawrence, 75, of Denver, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2026. He was born on January 6, 1951, in Schenectady, New York, the son of the late Roy James Lawrence and Anne Mikus Lawrence. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Lawrence.
Thomas is survived by his beloved wife, Antoinette Renna Lawrence; his son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Shannon Lawrence; his daughter and son-in-law, Nikki Lawrence and Domenic Gianfrancesco; his sister, Judith Schedlbauer; and his cherished grandchildren, Carrigan Lawrence, Noah Lawrence, and Nico Gianfrancesco. He is also survived by many loving sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Thomas proudly served his community as a detective with the Schenectady, New York Police Department, from which he retired after many years of dedicated service. He was deeply committed to his family and treasured every moment spent with them. Known for his great sense of humor, Thomas loved telling jokes and stories and had a remarkable ability to connect with people. He was loving, kind, personable, and left a lasting impression on everyone he met.
In his free time, Thomas enjoyed trips to the beach, coaching baseball and softball, and sharing stories from his life. He was a devoted animal lover and a man of strong faith who loved the Lord.
Thomas will be remembered for his warmth, laughter, and unwavering love for his family, faith, and friends. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026, 11:00am, at The Cove Church, 4679 NC-16 Business, Denver, NC 28037.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations, in Thomas’ name, may be made to:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care by clicking DONATE.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by clicking DONATE.
James Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Lawrence. Online memories and condolences may be shared at https://www.JamesFuneralHomeLKN.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Thomas?
What’s a lesson you learned from Thomas?
Share a story where Thomas' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Thomas you’ll never forget.
How did Thomas make you smile?

