Sgt. Lamar Cromwell, USMC

Sgt. Lamar Cromwell, USMC, 57, of James Island, resided in North Charleston, SC, husband of J. Denise Cromwell entered into eternal rest Friday, August 7, 2020 at home surrounded by his family. Their only daughter, Asia Cromwell and only granddaughter, Valerie Rose Cromwell and his mother, Ms. Barbara Jean Cromwell Whitesides.
His full military honors service will be held Saturday, September 26, 2020 at 1:00 pm at Carolina Memorial Gardens, 7113 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406.
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Lamar Cromwell, 57, of James Island, resided in North Charleston, South Carolina, husband of J. Denise Cromwell entered into eternal rest Friday, August 7, 2020 at home surrounded by his family.

His funeral service will be held Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the Alfred Williams Community Life Center at 4441 Durant Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405. Interment with military honors will follow at Carolina Memorial Gardens, 7113 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406. Family and friends are invited to a Wake Walk Through on Friday, August 14, 2020 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 p.m. at the Alfred Williams Community Life Center. For the health and safety of all, the family requests small children not attend any of the services, visitation or visiting at the house.

Lamar was born December 21, 1962 in Charleston, South Carolina, son of Ms. Barbara Jean Cromwell-Whitesides and grandson of the late Alvin and Helen Cromwell.

Lamar was an active member of First Baptist Church of James Island where he actively served on the Trustee Board and as a Parking Lot Attendant. He was educated in Charleston County Schools and was a 1982 graduate of St. Andrews High School. During his high school years as a school bus driver he gained the love for driving Class A vehicles.

He honorably served in the U.S.M.C. for 12 1/2 years as a machine gunner and instructor at Parris Island and attained the rank of Sergeant. Lamar was an expert marksman and received many accolades and awards including the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Rifle Sharp Shooter Badge, the Pistol Sharp Shooter Badge and Boat Platoon accolade. Upon retiring from the U.S.M.C., he pursued a career as a truck driver. His love and experience for driving afforded him the opportunity to work for Schneider Transportation and Logistic Services and Fennell/FenVac (DBA Nature's Calling/United Site Services). He received many accolades for safe driving and expertise in Hazmat training.

He was very instrumental in community service activities. Lamar went above and beyond the call of duty with his boots on the ground to serve his homeless military comrades with a Non-Profit Organization founded by his wife in memory of her uncle SFC Sam Caulder. Lamar, along with his daughter Asia, were the first volunteers for the organization and held the most volunteer hours and every year were voted Volunteer of the Year for Project Street Outreach.

Lamar is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 32 years, J. Denise Williams Cromwell whom he shared a special and loving bond beyond understanding and who cared for him until the end; Asia Cromwell his only child and the apple of his eye who gave him the most precious and beautiful gift his granddaughter, Valerie Rose Cromwell who he had the pleasure of spending 6 months with and building those memories that would last a lifetime for her; Godsons: Jay Hillard, and Daniel Dent; mother, Ms. Barbara Jean Cromwell Whitesides (Alexander); sister, Shalley L. Whitesides; his "Bonus Moms"/mother-in-laws, Jean Caulder Williams from Hollywood, Elizabeth Robinson (Mudder) from Mount Pleasant; two aunts: Emma C. Backman and Margie Matthews; two uncles: Virgil Cromwell (Sue) and Roger Cromwell(Francis). He is also survived by his loving sisters-in-law: Jean McDaniels (Edison) of AR, Sandra Wilder (Anwin) of Goose Creek, Voka Michelle Stokes-Norwood (Rodney) of Washington DC, Tonya L. Stokes of Charlotte NC, Bernice Manuel McKenzie (Leo) of Columbia SC, The Shaw Family, and Florence Brown, ; brothers-in-law: Robert Williams (Tasha), Frederick Williams (Kishia Gibbs), Perry M. Robinson (Christy) of Mount Pleasant SC, David Caldwell (Candice); special cousins/brother Gary Cromwell (Jackie Cromwell), Andrew Champion, Ronald Champion, Connie, Hazel (Butchie) Tony Matthews, Curtis Cromwell (Miriam), Alvin Cromwell, Clayton Roper, Darnell Richardson and Sylvia Washington; special cousin/aunt, Sylvia Bunyon (Frank) of Pawling NY; special uncle-in-law, Billy Caulder (Lynn) Edward Stokes(linda) ; and his special military comrades; 1SGT Tyrone Smalls, CSM Rick Tuner, Richie Byron, SGT Kenneth Fray, SGT Percy Poole, Derrick Sanders(Brenda), 1SGT Jonthan Baxter, SSGT James V. Simmons, LCPL Jackson and CPL Terrence Scott. Special friends: Benjamin Williams, Darryl and Penny Williams, Captain Willis & Kim Weaver, Robert & Tracy Cook-Brewton, Richard Gant, Charles Holmes, James Gibbs, Jerome Blake, Ally&Paul Willoughby, Anita Keith, Dennis & LaBarbara Brown, Jeffrey Scott, Corin Clark, Mike Davis and Mike Williams. Special nephew, Clifford Murray whom he mentored and encouraged to embark upon a successful career in the USAF. As a result of the training he received in the USAF, it landed him a job working alongside his Uncle Lamar as one of the top diesel mechanics. He is also survived by a host of many other nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. As a business owner of Asia's Ice cream Shop and Barbering Plus, Lamar mentored teenagers and young adults of the Remount Rd. community: many of whom have gone on to become successful as a direct result of Lamar's mentorship.

Lamar was preceded in death by his grandparents, Alvin and Helen Cromwell, cousin/friend, Cyrus Matthews, father-in-law, Joseph Earl Williams and special cousin R.J. Washington.

To view the funeral service video please visit the following: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/H7DGLGHLQX35F373