Lawrence, Charles Radford II

(May 2, 1915-Apr. 3, 1986). The first African American president of the House of Deputies. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Lawrence received his B.A. from Morehouse College in 1936, his M.A. from Atlanta University in 1938, and his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1952. Lawrence taught in the Atlanta public schools, 1936-1939. He was the student YMCA secretary of the Southeast Region, 1941-1942. From 1943 until 1947, he was an instructor and then research associate at Fisk University. In 1948 Lawrence joined the faculty of Brooklyn College and became chairman of the Sociology Department in 1966. He retired in 1977. Lawrence was the twenty-eighth president of the House of Deputies. He served from Sept. 20, 1976, until Sept. 14, 1985. He was elected in 1976, 1979, and 1982. He was senior warden at Trinity Church, New York City, and vice-chairman of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. He also served on the Board of Trustees of General Theological Seminary, and was a member of the Anglican Consultative Council. Lawrence died in Pomona, New York.