Lawrence Calvin Duke

March 11, 1953 - February 1, 2022

Lawrence Calvin Duke was born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 11, 1953 the son of the late Marvin Earl and Edith Irene Mobley Duke. On August 11, 1990 he was united in marriage to Julie Kay Petrich, who survives. Lawrence held three Master Degrees, they were in History, Anthropology and Library Science. He was a Reference Librarian for the Memphis Public Library in Memphis, Tennessee and Multnomah County Public Library in Portland, Oregon. Lawrence was a Reference Librarian, and Anthropology and History Instructor at Asheville-Buncombe Community College in Asheville, North Carolina. He was a History Instructor at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Brevard College in Brevard, North Carolina, Columbia State Community College, Columbia, Tennessee and Nashville State Community College (Dickson Campus), where he retired from in Fairview, Tennessee. Lawrence was an Interpretive Park Ranger at Shiloh National Military Park, Bunker Hill and USS Constitution in Boston, Massachusetts, and Independence Hall and Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2018, Lawrence and Julie moved to the Pickwick Pines Resort and Retirement community in Iuka, Mississippi (Tishomingo County). Lawrence was an authentic Civil War reenactor, author, avid reader, and researcher, which included family genealogy. He was a member of Reed Memorial Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina, where he served as deacon, Sunday school teacher, choir member and assisted with Vacation Bible School. Lawrence departed this life on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 in Iuka, Mississippi at the age of 68 years, 10 months and 21 days. In addition to his wife of 31 years, Julie Kay Duke of Iuka, Mississippi, he is survived by his siblings, Everett Phillip Way of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Rebecca Luman (Michael) of Bartlett, Tennessee, Joseph Stephen Duke (Lorien) of Memphis, Tennessee, and Shirley Pointer of Clinton, Tennessee; and nieces and nephews, Aaron Lee Duke (Dawn), Laura Celeste Gillis (Casey), Phillip Way, Bryan Way (Melissa), and Shawn (Camisha) Way. Lawrence was preceded in death by one sister, Glenda Davidson; one brother, Richard Way; and one nephew, Trevor Duke. * Family and friends, please note that this is not Fairview Baptist Church in Fairview, Tennessee.*