MaKlain Lawson

MaKlain Lawson, 20, of Cleveland, passed away Thursday, January 11, 2018 at a Chattanooga hospital.  He was a 2015 graduate of Bradley Central High School.  He attended Smyrna Baptist Church, Mt. Olive Ministries and North Cleveland Church of God. MaKlain loved life and he garnered many incredible friendships during his stay. His light shined for the world to see as if his main purpose here on earth was to bring joy to those he encountered.

He graduated from Bradley Central High School in 2015 and was attending Cleveland State Community College. He attended Oak Grove Elementary School and Lake Forest Middle School. He was a superlative his senior year of high school – voted wittiest in class. Those who knew him were not surprised. He participated in several debate teams, and the Duke TIP program.

He was competitive and enjoyed the camaraderie that sports and other activities provided. He played numerous sports along the way, including basketball, BMX, soccer and baseball.  He competed for three high schools: Dalton High School, McMinn County High School, and Bradley Central High School.  His high school sports included football, wrestling and rugby.  He continued playing club rugby after high school.  He participated in many plays and choirs.  While in middle school, he was very proud to have played Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird presented by the Athens Arts Council.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Connie Crane.

Survivors include his mother, Angel Crane and Kelly Cheek her fiancée of Dalton, GA; father, Tim Lawson and wife, Tracy of Cleveland; special friend of 2 1/2 years, Sara Holden of Cleveland; siblings, MaKenzie Dale of Chattanooga and Jacob Sharp, Jordan Sharp, Kacie Sharp and Whitley Lawson, all of Cleveland; maternal grandparents, James and Pattie Crane of Dalton, GA; paternal grandparents, Charles and Myrtle Lawson of Cleveland; and aunt, Nicole Lawson of Cleveland.

The funeral will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 20, 2018 in the chapel of Fike-Randolph & Son Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Parm and Pastor Joel Jenkins officiating.  The interment will follow in Smyrna Baptist Church Cemetery. 

His family will receive friends from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

The family requests that memorials be made to the FLIP Program for Kids, Ryan Potts, Director of Polk County Missions, Polk County Baptist Association, PO Box 289, Benton TN 37307 (writing FLIP in the memo), or Lake Forest Wrestling, 610 Kile Lake Road, Cleveland TN 37323.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Lawson family guestbook at www.fikefh.com.