Hattie Mae (Clements) Lawson was born to Lucille and Emanuel Clements on August 9, 1918 in Monticello, GA., the first of 8 children, she was brought up in Atlanta, Ga. with her 7 siblings. Hattie's introduction to Christ was at the early age of 12 when she started playing the piano at Cosmopolitan A.M.E. Church in Atlanta, GA for Sunday School. She took that introduction into a life long service of the Lord, playing piano in her father's church and then spent the better part of 70 years playing the piano and directing choirs at both North Street and New North Street A.M.E. Church in Springfield, OH. She played for and directed the Gospel Choir and Male Chorus and sang in the Senior Choir. Hattie graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1935 and Morris Brown College, with a degree in Education in 1939. She met her future husband, John W. Lawson Sr., at Morris Brown and married and moved with him to Springfield, OH. in 1942 where she has resided for the remainder of her life. During her stay in Springfield, she worked for Wright Patterson A.F.B. during World War II, Clark County Public Library, taught at St. Mary's Elementary School and then 29 years at Warder Park Elementary School where she retired in 1987. During all of that time, she played the piano at North Street and New North Street A.M.E. Church. Hattie has always had a strong sense of service and was the founding member of the Les Femmes des Charities, a social club that has contributed thousands of dollars to scholarships for students in the Springfield community. She is also a member of Church Women United, National Council of Negro Women, President of the Rosie Smith Missionary Society at New North Street A.M.E. Church, past president and alumni member of the Springfield Chapter of the Links, Inc., Friend of Payne Theological Seminary, member of the AACF of the Springfield Foundation, past president of the Urban League Guild, member of the Board of Directors for Oesterlen Services for Youth, board member of the Springfield Peace Center, member of 10 for 10, member of Springfield Federated Women's Club, and a member of Sisters United for Prevention. Because of her faith in God, she had been able to face different health issues including being a cancer survivor. Hattie also cared about others and was always there to help those in need. She was respected in the community by everyone and her list of friends includes everyone in Springfield! Hattie 's memory will be cherished by her loving and devoted son, John W. Lawson Jr.; granddaughter, Tycia Ann Dobbs; sisters, Vivian (Neil) Baldwin, Carrie Johnson and Dorothy Fletcher; brother, Nathaniel Clements; cousins, Bobbie and Barbara Williamson; special friends, Leola Patterson, Alice Marshall and Patty Young and a host of other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Springfield Foundation AACF or Les Femmes des Charities.