Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Lawrence, David Burr, Jr. March 7, 2004
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Virginian-Pilot  March 13, 2004
The man who spent his life "making Ocean View a better place to live" has passed. 
David Burr Lawrence Jr., known as the "mayor of Ocean View," died March 7, 2004, 
at the age of 92. Named "Man of the Year" in 1990 by the Ocean View Kiwanis Club, 
his contributions included community service in many domains. He served as the 
areas first representative to the Norfolk Democratic Party, helped to establish 
the Ocean View Democratic and Social Club, served as president of the Lions Club 
and chairman of the Ocean View Coordinating Committee. He was active in the Mens 
Garden Club of Norfolk, the Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the 
Ocean View Civic League. He was one of the founders and for several years a docent 
for the Ocean View Museum.

At the age of 21, he opened a gas station and grocery store and the site soon 
became a place where neighbors discussed politics and local concerns. He was asked 
to be the head of the area's Democratic Party during the Roosevelt years. "I don't 
think it was any special ability I had. I just could never say No when people 
asked for my help. But then, I was always glad to serve."

After service in the Navy during World War II, he opened a hardware store on First 
View Street and raised a family. He was active in raising money for the expansion 
of Holy Trinity School and for special projects of the Ocean View Lions Club.

One of his many interests was music. He chaired the committee of the Ocean View 
Lions Club that selected young performers to compete in state- wide music 
competition, the Bland Memorial. He sang and told jokes frequently in the musicals 
performed by the Lions Club, and later, the Knights of Columbus. His love of music 
and a good joke, as well as his caring about the community, will be remembered by 
many current residents. In his own words "Ocean View is a place I have such 
affection for and I've always felt I should work to make it a better place to 
live. I love it here. It's home. I'll always do whatever I can to help."

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; his son, David B. Lawrence III (Mary Kay 
Price); his daughter, Patricia Ann Weisz (Randall); his daughter, Mary Ellen Pesko 
(Robert); and nine grandchildren, Kyle, Aaron and Blake Lawrence, Greta Argenta 
(Joe), Marla Barbot (Paul) and Robbie Weisz, Christopher, Kendra and Robin Pesko; 
brother, Kenneth Lawrence of Williamsburg; and sister, Marjorie Glass of Tampa, 
Fla.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be conducted Monday at noon in Holy Trinity 
Catholic Church with Father James C. Griffin officiating. Burial will follow in 
St. Marys Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Hollomon-Brown Funeral 
Home, Tidewater Drive Chapel, Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial 
donations may be made to Senior Services of North Carolina, the Ocean View Lions 
Club, or Ocean View Democratic Club.

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