Joe Lawson, 68, of Tuscaloosa passed away Saturday October 6th after a long illness.

Funeral services will be held at Spry Williams Funeral Home in Florence Tuesday October 9th at 1:00pm with visitation at 11:00am immediately prior to the service. Burial will follow at Mount Tabor.

Joe was a native of Florence who made his home in Tuscaloosa for many years. He was a member of the former Chisholm Heights Baptist Church, was a graduate of Wilson High School, and a former member of the U.S. Navy. He was a gifted mechanic and musician with a love of Alabama football. Joe spent much of the last ten years entertaining his friends and fellow veterans at the VA in Tuscaloosa where he was affectionately known as “guitar man”. Joe was preceded in death by his parents William and Evelyn Lawson, grandparents James and Mattie Lawson and Joseph and Cora McCool.

He is survived by his sisters Martha Whitehead of Florence, Nancy Lavender of Garland, TX, and Tammy Lawson Johnson of Florence, niece Julie Whitehead, nephews Robert Lavender and Jimmy Johnson, grandnieces Kelsey Damone, Taylor Damone, and Kenzie Jeffrey, and friend Diane.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the doctors and staff at the VA hospital in Tuscaloosa with special thanks to those on the hospice floor Valor unit.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your favorite VA or cancer charity.