Close Menu
    Advertise With Us
    Religion

    Celebrating The Life of Lawrence A. Hargrove, Jr.

    4 Mins Read24 Views
    Advertisement

    September 17, 1928 – June 7, 2022

    The Viewing will be held at McWhite’s Funeral Home

    On Friday, June 17, 2022 from 5 to 8 p.m.

    The Memorial will be held Saturday June 18, 2022

    at 1 p.m., at McWhite’s Funeral Home

    3501 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

    Celebrating The Life of Lawrence A. Hargrove, Jr., September 17, 1928 – June 7, 2022, Saturday June 18, 2022 1 p.m., McWhite Funeral Home, 3501 W Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, Rev. Dr. J.R. Thicklin, Officiating “You are not judged by the height you have risen, but from the depth you have climbed.” Frederick Douglass

    Lawrence (Larry) Alphonso Hargrove, Jr. was the son of the late Octavia Anderson Roberts, Lawrence Alphonso Hargrove, Sr., and West Roberts. He was born in Tallahassee, FL on September 17, 1928, and was peacefully called home at 6:45 p.m. on June 7, 2022.

    Lawrence attended public school in Leon County, FL. He graduated in 1946 from Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, FL. Following high school, he attended Florida A&M University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology in 1951. After graduation, Lawrence joined the military, but returned home in 1954 to further his education at Florida A&M where he received a master’s degree in Business and Public Administration.

    Lawrence taught middle school at Collins Elementary from 1959-1960; however, he left to follow his passion as a businessman in the music industry. Larry, also known as “Groovy

    Grove”, has been an independent record promoter, a disc jockey with WMBM & WRBD in South Florida and WJLD in Birmingham, AL, and the proprietor of Tanzotic Enterprises, dba Spin City Records Shop, and Tavo Music Publishing. Larry was exceptional as a promoter of records and artists and was responsible for bringing revenue into the city of Fort Lauderdale, and cities and states throughout the U.S., by promoting concerts with current and upcoming artists & musicians. He has worked with, promoted, or booked such greats as Al Green, James Brown, Ike & Tina, Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, Four Tops, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Temptations, Otis Redding, James Brown, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, O.V. Wright, Frankie Beverly & Maze, South Florida’s own Ella Washington, and many others.

    Larry and his then wife, Lacy, were masters at organizing top artists to share a stage to perform for people that came from miles around. He opened doors for many of his colleagues, DJs, and upcoming artists, and mentored many entertainers, steering them in the right way to conduct their business by learning to “own their talent” in order to reap the benefits (royalties) instead of giving them over to someone else.

    Larry was an active participant in the first Sistrunk Festivals, designed to show ‘them’ patrons how much the local business owners appreciated their support, during the early

    60s. Spin City records and many other “Sixth Street” proprietors would prepare food and drinks in front of their stores so their customers could listen to music, dance and have fun.

    Life’s demands and challenges are behind him now. He lived life on his own terms, impacting the lives of others as a teacher, entrepreneur, veteran, friend, mentor, husband, and father.

    Lawrence was formerly married to Thomasina Graham on October 4, 1956. To their union, four children were born. Lawrence was formerly married to Lacy Glenn on December 19, 1971 which to this union, one daughter was born. Lawrence’s parents and grandson (Asher Lawrence Earle Howard) preceded him in death.

    Lawrence leaves to cherish his memories: three daughters:  Cynita H. Mathews (Raymond) of Pembroke Pines, FL. Colynda J. Bryant (Anthony) of Snellville, GA, and Cheryl Hargrove Howard (Adam) of Silver Spring, MD; four sons : James L. Hargrove, Carlton J. Hargrove of Miami, FL. Cedric J. Hargrove of Miami, FL and Xavier M. Hargrove (Joshlyn) of Mableton, GA. eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The family would also like to extend appreciation and love to his devoted caregiver, Miss Marjorie (Peaches) Smart.

    Share.

    Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

    Related Posts

    This College Chaplain Fills The Pews By Teaching, Not Preaching Lawrence Lockett Jr., Morgan State University chaplain. Credit: Lawrence Lockett Jr. via LinkedIn By REV. DOROTHY S. BOULWARE (Source: Amsterdam News) It’s understandable for parents of strong faith to worry about the spiritual lives of their children who’ve gone away to college. After all, it’s easy for a young person, perhaps on their own for the first time, to suc-cumb to the temptations of partying late on Saturday night and sleeping in on Sunday morning. But Minister Lawrence Lockett Jr., chaplain at Morgan State University in Baltimore, is packing them into the pews most Sundays. He is engaging them in lively ways during the week. And students are joining the choir, accompanying worship on various instruments, and serving as readers and leaders throughout the service. It is by the grace of God for sure, but also by the loving service of Lockett, who’s beginning his second year as the school’s director of chapel. He has grown his flock from the 25 or so students who showed up at his first services to more than 200 each Sunday. Sometimes, it’s standing room only. “We’ve been trying to figure out what to do next because on Easter Sunday we had 342 people, and some were standing in the back,” he said. Word In Black talked to Lockett about the secrets of his success: how his adjustment of Sunday ser-vices got people into the pews, why his philosophy for guiding students on their spiritual journey centers on independent thought, and how his “Spin the Block” initiative is shaking things up on campus. The in-terview has been edited for length and clarity. Word in Black: The first thing we want to know is, how do you get so many young people to chapel every Sunday?. Lawrence Lockett: Well, first of all, I changed the time of service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. I realized a lot of the students like to sleep in late. It gives them time to do whatever they need to do. I’m sure many of them still like to party hearty over the weekend. So they have a good chance just to kind of refocus, recali-brate, get themselves lunch, and then come over to the chapel for service. When I started in November, maybe 20-25 students came, but now it’s over 200 that come every Sun-day, and it’s pretty cool. So now we’re repositioning ourselves to go after the freshman class this year. If we have the same success as last year, there’s definitely not going to be any room. Word in Black: Tell me about pastoring on a college campus. Lawrence Lockett: Morgan actually started as a biblical institute, so the Christian traditions have al-ways been here. As a pastor or shepherd, I’m walking students through their questions, not always just trying to preach answers to them. It’s about being vulnerable. I tell them I was in their same position, just trying to figure it out. And it’s not me just trying to give them answers. Having been there helps me really walk with them and anchor them in the storm of life that’s going to come. I want them to understand that their soul really matters. A lot of students focus on mental health, but they really need to focus on spiritual health as well. It should be one and the same. So I’ve been trying to preach that, if anything, spiritual health is just as important as your mental health. But we do encour-age the use of the counseling center, for sure, if there is a mental health crisis. WIB: What does Monday through Friday look like for you? LL: Mondays, we are usually off because of Sundays. On Tuesdays, we have Bible studies, so I’ll host a Bible study at noon along with my colleagues that work in the chapel. And then, I’m teaching a class called Hip-hop and the Gospel on Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m., dealing with mixing culture and religion. On Wednesdays, we do something called “breath and balance,” which is just a meditative type of pro-gram with breathing exercises as stress relievers. We work with the School of Nutrition Science and the food resource center so that the students get a nice free meal and practice breathing exercises and meth-ods to feel good about the day. For Thursdays, we started something called the mosaic, in which we have different campus ministers gather in small groups, just like a mosaic painting. So the students who come on Sundays then get plugged into small groups on Thursdays. And on Fridays at 1 p.m., we do prayer for Muslims.. We have an imam lecture and then lead in corporate prayer. It’s a good mix. WIB: What is “Spend a Block?” Didn’t you receive an award for it? LL: That started last year. We just basically do services outside: outside the residence halls, in the quad, wherever it may be. Honestly, worship on a college campus looks different than it did 20 or 30 years ago. Students want something real and authentic, something they can gravitate to, and something that’s convenient. So when we’re outside, people are like, “What’s all the noise outside? What’s all the music?” Then they come outside, and there are chairs, so they grab one and sit and enjoy the service. We come to them. They don’t have to come to us. At the very beginning of the semester, we do services outside the four resi-dence halls. And that kind of gives us a steamroll into homecoming week. And we’ve seen a lot of success because of that. WIB: What should I expect when I arrive for Sunday service? LL: You’re gonna see a lot of involvement with students. I’ve learned that students like to feel invested, and they want to participate in what’s going on. They don’t want to be told by adults what they should and shouldn’t do. So when you go to the service, you’ll see our praise team full of students. You’ll see a choir full of students. You’ll see students reading scripture. You’ll see students giving testimonies. And then I’ll come in and give a sermon, or I’ll have a guest friend or a guest preacher come in to do the sermon. But you’re gonna see a lot of student involvement, and I think that also assisted with a lot of the growth be-cause when they see fellow students, they understand they’re just like me, and if they can do it, I can do it. WIB: What about musicians and choir? LL: The musicians are also students. They say, “Hey, I love to play. I wanna use my gifts in some way, shape, or form.” And they’ll ask whether or not there’s a spot for them. And we say absolutely. And there is a chapel choir. Some of the members are also members of the university choir. WIB: What is the “next” you see for the chapel? LL: I want the students to know God, find freedom, discover purpose, and make a difference. The chapel really is the heartbeat of the campus, and I want students to know more about where faith, hope, and belonging really stem from. I also want the chapel to become more interfaith and involve as many students and beliefs as possible.