Thomas R. "Tom" Lawrence of Opelika, Alabama passed away peacefully on March 22, 2017 at the age of 77 after a brief illness. Tom was born on September 6, 1939 in Dallas, Texas, served eight years (1955-1963) in the Mississippi and Alabama National Guard (E Company, 155th Infantry Regiment), and graduated from Mississippi State University, for which he had a lifelong passion. He had a long career in various entrepreneurial ventures where he either owned, founded or funded multiple businesses. Most recently he was the retired CEO of Aetos Technologies, Inc. and Board Chairman for Eagle Aquaculture, Inc. and CytoViva, Inc., all located in Auburn, Alabama and based on technologies developed at Auburn University. He was also a founder and Board Member of publicly traded Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee. He has written several books based on his experiences growing up in the Mississippi Delta, his life-long affinity for Mississippi State University, and his experiences as an entrepreneur. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph O'Donovan Lawrence and Kathleen Lloyd Lawrence. Tom is survived by his partner, Clista Hunter Haley of Opelika, Alabama; children, Samuel Miller Lawrence (Terri) of Auburn, Alabama, John O'Donovan Lawrence (Ouida) of Auburn, Alabama, and Mary Lawrence Prater (Donnie) of Opelika, Alabama; step-children, Michael Hampton Fisher of Gallatin, Tennessee, Karen Fisher D'Hilly of Gallatin, Tennessee, and Scott Matthew Fisher of Opelika, Alabama; three granddaughters, Virginia Hobbs Lawrence, Ava O"Donovan Lawrence and Abby Barnett Lawrence all of Auburn, Alabama; grandson, Jackson Thomas Belford of Jackson, Wyoming; step-granddaughter, Molly Lauren Thorvilson and step-grandson, Dalton Thomas Thorvilson, both of Auburn, Alabama; and his brother, Steven Lloyd Lawrence of Memphis, Tennessee. The family will receive friends at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 100 Church Drive, Auburn, Alabama, Wednesday, March 29, 2017 from 1:00 pm until service time. A Service of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 100 Church Drive, Auburn, Alabama, Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Geoff Evans officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Thomas Lawrence Endowed Scholarship Fund at Mississippi State University, MSU Foundation, P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS. 39762. Online donations may be made at msufoundation.com by designating your gift for the Thomas Lawrence Endowed Scholarship Fund. Frederick-Dean Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.