Barbara Lawing

BARBARA LAWING, age 68 of Memphis, Tennessee and formerly of Eaton, Ohio, died Wednesday, December 25, 2002 at Saint Francis Hospital in Memphis. Born on April 19, 1934 in Eaton, Ohio she was the daughter of the late Cecil Ray & Katherine (Freitag) Hewitt. She was Salutatorian of Eaton High School class of 1952 and worked for Memphis and Shelby County Office of Planning and Development. In 1974, she coordinated the campaign for Harold Ford Sr., who became the first African American congressman from Tennessee. She contributed to virtually every aspect of civic life in Memphis. She held many leadership positions in the Shelby County Democratic Women organization, Shelby County Democratic Executive Committee, State Parliamentarian for the Federation of Democratic Women and the Tennessee Democratic County Chair committee and was president of the Hanley Elementary School PTA. Active in the Memphis Park Commission, Memphis Girl's Incorporated, Memphis's Children's Theatre, and many political campaigns including the 1992 presidential and vice presidential campaign, in special support of her friend Al Gore. She earned her Undergraduate and Master's degrees in Economics from the University of Memphis and devoted much of her time to the University of Memphis during the last twenty years as a professor of economics as well as a volunteer tutor in the athletic department. Preceded in death by Husband: Allan Akehurst in 1961; Brothers: Arthur Frederick Hewitt in 1918, Franklin Ray Hewitt in 1931; Sisters: Bertha Louise Hewitt in 1923, Hannah M. Grilliot in 1990.<br><br>Survived by Daughters: Joyce Kathrine Akehurst, Memphis, Tennessee, Jacquie Lawing Ebert, Washington, DC, Becky Schorr, West Palm Beach, Florida and Abigail Bess Lawing, Miami, Florida; Son: Tom Akehurst, Chattanooga, Tennessee; Sisters: Doris Jean Hapner, Katherine R. Rader and Linda Simmons all of Eaton, Ohio. 4 Grandchildren.<br><br>Funeral Service will be held on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 12:00 Noon at Barnes Funeral Home - 220 East Main Street, Eaton, Ohio with Rev. Richard E. Boroff officiating. Interment will be held in Mound Hill Union Cemetery in Eaton. Family will receive friends on Monday, December 30, 2002 from 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 Noon at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Memphis - Barbara Lawing Scholarship Fund. Condolences may be sent to the family via the Web site at www.barnesfuneralhome.com