Lawrence Parker

Born and raised in the District of Columbia, Lawrence Parker, his seven brothers and four sisters were parented by Joseph and Mary Parker. Lawrence attended Spingarn High School but was compelled to leave school prior to graduation in order to seek employment. At the age of 21, fate landed on his doorstep as an opportunity to work as a messenger for The Architect of the Capitol culminating in a career spanning over thirty-one years. In a few short years, Lawrence worked his way up the ladder from messenger to senior service officer and finally to facility manager as a building inspector at the grade of GS-12. During this time, he also attended night school and obtained his GED.

Lawrence married the love of his life, Mamie, in 1981. They retired in The Villages in 2002. Lawrence quickly began to make his mark in the neighborhood. As a member of The African American Club of The Villages, Lawrence took the lead in coordinating and promoting various social events, sometimes through his personal enterprise known as the LP Sound Machine. Also, Lawrence and Nelson Bickley founded a men’s club known today as the Sophisticated Gents of Florida.

Among his many talents and accomplishments, Lawrence designed and made exquisite writing pens. He joined the Woodwork Shop Club and began designing and producing beautiful wood products such as bookshelves, cabinets and just about anything that could be made out of wood.

Lawrence is known to many as an events “guy” who can come up with interesting ideas along with ways to raise funds to support his social club affiliations, The African American of The Villages and the Sophisticated Gents of Florida. Always classy and elegantly attired, it is no surprise that one of his funding ideas involved an All Male Fashion Show. Also, he partnered with others to give breath to the idea of raising funds, via golf tournaments, to award scholarships to underserved high school students. And, he started and continues to host a monthly evening of night club style music and dancing, aka ‘Uptown Jammin’. Lawrence is actively energetic and participatory, suggesting that there is nothing that Lawrence has put his mark on that he does not enjoy.

Of remarkable valor, Lawrence has continued to promote fundraising events and host Uptown Jammin monthly dances in spite of becoming legally blind. He stands as a model to all who refuse to allow their God-given-talents to remain idle. All of what he promotes is further enhanced by the backing and support of his loving wife, Mamie. Service to others is their motto and both he and Mamie continue to demonstrate their selfless act of giving.