Lawrence Kelly Lockwood

Lawrence Kelly Lockwood passed this life peacefully on July 1, 2024, in Hammond, Louisiana, at the age of 64. He was born on December 19, 1959, in San Francisco, California. Lawrence was born with Down Syndrome, and was fortunate to lead a charmed life due to the opportunities provided by his mother and the communities where he lived. As a young child, he attended Casady School, a preparatory school in Oklahoma City, where he learned to read. He continued his education through his high school years at Gretchen Everhart in Tallahassee, Florida, earning a high school diploma in 1978. After high school, his family moved to Hammond, Louisiana, and he became a resident at OPTIONS community home Fortenberry House. OPTIONS provided him an opportunity to work and to make life-long friends and live a fulfilling life. In the Community Home program, he learned basic life skills such as food preparation and shopping. He was able to contribute to his community for many years, for example, ironing clothes at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in Hammond. Lawrence enjoyed traveling, and traveled many times from Hammond to Washington, DC to visit his brother, Robert. Lawrence loved sports. He was a regular participant in the Special Olympics, enjoying particularly track events and basketball. More than anything, Lawrence loved LSU sports, especially football and baseball, and he attended many games with family members and friends. 

Lawrence is preceded in death by his father, James Kelly Lockwood, and his mother, Maryjo Craig Lockwood. Lawrence is survived by his brother James Robert Lockwood (Karla) of Atlanta, Georgia, four nieces and nephews, many cousins, and many caretakers and friends that are like family. He lived in Fortenberry House for 40 years with his long time friends Danny Berthaut, Richard Weber, Pat Dailey, and Colt Threadgill. Special thanks to Sylvia Bush, Bona Patel, Shannon Trautman, Randall Waguespack, Dee Dee Dangerfield, Tammie Edwards, Lesile Jyles and all of the OPTIONS staff for helping Lawrence enjoy a wonderful life.

 A celebration of the life of this remarkable man will take place on July 10, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Albert Catholic Church, 409 W. Dakota Street in Hammond. Family and friends are welcome to attend and to speak of how Lawrence touched their lives. 

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation may send it to OPTIONS, 19362 W. Shelton Rd., Hammond, LA 70401, or at options4u.org.