Lawrence Berry Butler, Jr. was born on March 10, 1951, in Newport News, Virginia. He was the second of two children born to Ella Virginia Stallings Butler and Lawrence Berry Butler, Sr. He departed this earthly life peacefully on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at home, with his wife and son, in Akron, Ohio.
Lawrence grew up in the tidewater area of Virginia. His devoted and loving parents, Deacon Lawrence & Ella Butler, made certain that their sons, James and Lawrence, were reared in a home filled with love, discipline, and a devotion to God and to the church. His parents were both very active in the church and they demonstrated their love of God in their daily actions and with each other. He, like so many of his friends, developed his love of music at a very young age. His parents nurtured his musical passion, and they made certain that he and his big brother received the best education and experiences. They also made certain that they were surrounded by their loving grandparents, aunts & uncles, and cousins. He often reflected with joy about the special attention he received from his maternal grandmother and his many trips to Philadelphia to spend time with his paternal grandfather.
Lawrence attended the Newport News City Public Schools and the Hampton City Schools. He was a 1969 graduate of Hampton High School in Hampton, Virginia. A high honors student, his activities included being a member of the Latin Honor Society, National Honor Society, marching band, and first chair as a clarinetist. He received numerous awards for his academic and musical abilities. His musical prowess provided him the opportunity to sing and play at a variety of churches, including his family church of Wesley Grove United Church of Christ and later Carver Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he made many lifetime friends. During high school, he was recruited to attend the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia. While in his second year of college, he realized that he wanted a different college experience and he transferred from Shenandoah to Norfolk State University (a HBCU) in Norfolk, Virginia, where he continued his passion for music and he played in the Marching Band and the Symphonic Band. Over the years, he played numerous musical instruments, including the clarinet, piano, and pipe organ and was known for his majestic singing voice. He maintained contact with many of his classmates from Huntington and Hampton, and he attended his 55th class reunion in 2024. At the last reunion, they were planning their group’s 75th birthdays for the spring of 2026.
Larry received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Norfolk State University. He also received his Masters of Education Degree from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. After college, he was recruited to serve as a music teacher with the Akron Public Schools. When he first moved to Akron, he briefly lived with the Rev. Dr. Eugene E. Morgan Jr. and Mrs. Guernia D. Morgan, the Senior Pastor & First Lady of the historic Wesley Temple AME Zion Church, and they became his surrogate Akron “parents.” At the time, Rev. Morgan was also a member and first African American to ever serve on the Akron Board of Education and Mrs. Morgan was an educator with the Akron Public Schools.
On June 14, 1986, Lawrence was joined in Holy Matrimony to Jacqueline A. Silas, at the Arlington Church of God in Akron, Ohio. Their marriage ceremony was co-officiated by the Senior Pastor Ronald J. Fowler and the Rev. Eugene E. Morgan Jr. At their wedding, Larry serenaded his bride with the song “One In a Million” and that was how he described Jackie throughout their 39-year marriage. On May 1, 1992, Larry and Jackie’s only child, Christopher M. Butler, was born. Like his parents, Christopher was raised in a home filled with love, discipline, and a love for God, church, and family.
A Passion for Educating Our Youth
Mr. Butler’s first teaching assignment in Akron was in 1974 and he served as the music teacher for both South High School and Thornton Jr. High School. While at South, many in the neighborhood would listen to the sounds of the young musicians as they practiced outside for their upcoming marching band performances and other musical concerts. Years later, people still remarked about the outstanding musicians and performers who were part of the school. Throughout his career with the Akron Public Schools, he taught music to students in all grade levels, and he made certain that the students participated in plays that he often wrote and that they had an enjoyable musical experience. Music teachers travelled throughout the district and often had assignments at different schools throughout the week. In addition to South and Thornton, his schools also included Essex, Findley, Firestone, Helen Arnold, Heminger, Margaret Park, Perkins, Pfeiffer, Stewart Afrocentric, and many others. He often remarked about the outstanding educators and principals he had the pleasure of serving with during his career.
Over the years, he often encountered former students who shared fond memories of being in his class, performing in one of the musical programs and/or plays, or the discipline of his classroom. His students had the opportunity to participate in many activities, including May Festivals, school performances, and competitions throughout the state. Proud parents, family members, and community members would often fill the auditoriums for the various performances and plays. He was always pleased to learn about the many successes of his students. He retired from the Akron Public Schools in 2011, and his award-winning career spanned more than thirty-eight (38) years. He had the opportunity to teach many of the children of his former students. Coming to Akron at the young age of twenty-three (23) and working at South High School, people often would tease him that some of his former students looked older than him. After his retirement from the Akron Public Schools, he later taught music at our church’s school, the Arlington Christian Academy for several years.
A Passion for Service
In addition to his teaching career, Larry was actively involved in the church, the community, with his fraternity, and countless other organizations. He loved reading the Holy Bible and he loved all aspects of the church. He was an active member of the Arlington Church of God, where he served in many church ministries, including the Trustee Board, Chancel Choir, the Male Chorus, on the Praise team, the Men’s Fellowship, Senior Ministry, Sunday School, and a member of the Connection group. Prior to joining Arlington, he was a devoted member of Wesley Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church for nearly forty (40) years. At Wesley Temple, he was very involved in the music ministry, including serving as a member of the Chancel Choir, the Richard Averitte Male Chorus, one of the co-founders of the E.E. Morgan Ensemble, director of many of the church’s musical concerts, including the beloved presentation of “Close to Thee”, and he later became the church’s Director of Music and was the pipe organist.
A lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., he has served as the President of the Akron Alumni Chapter; Chairperson for the 2015 East Central Province, George C. Miller Scholarship Programs, Founders’ Day, and the Chapter’s 50th & 60th Anniversaries; and served in many other leadership positions. Regionally, he served as the Keeper of Records for the East Central Province for fourteen (14) years and was the former Keeper of the Exchequer. Nationally, he served on the National Achievement Commission for twelve (12) years, was a member of the National Music Committee, and served as the Director of the National Kappa Choir. One of his highlights during his retirement was participating in his Fraternity’s 100th Centennial Celebration in Indianapolis, Indiana in July 2011. He has received numerous awards from all levels of his fraternity. As a Senior Kappa, he enjoyed sharing his wisdom, spending time with his fraternity brothers, and attending Kappa meetings and functions.
Larry was quite versatile and highly competitive. He used his talents as an actor and was in “Babes in Toyland” at the Akron Civic Theatre; he and his equally competitive dancing partner, Dr. Daisy Alford-Smith gave a show-stopping performance and they were the first winners of “Dancing with the Stars” for the Akron Urban League’s fundraiser; and he was often called upon to serve as the Master of Ceremonies at events. His love of music afforded him the opportunity to share his God given talents with others. For years, he was one of the few African American singers with the Akron Symphony Orchestra Chorus. He was the featured soloist for the dedication ceremonies of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, the Canal Park Stadium, the John S. Knight Convention Center, and for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission programs in Columbus, Ohio. Additionally, he was a soloist when Akron was the winner of an All-America City Award.
For more than twenty (20) years, Larry annually returned to his hometown in Virginia to perform and serve as the co-director of concerts with his former church, Carver Memorial Presbyterian Church. He was a member and Assistant Director of the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc.; singer with the Summit Choral Society, where he participated in their concerts, Madrigal Dinners, and he had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City; member of Singers Companye, where he had the pleasure of touring with the ensemble in many venues, including performing in Spain and in Italy. In addition to playing the piano and the pipe organ, he was often a requested soloist of a variety of songs, from classical, hymns, spirituals, pop, and soul. He sang at countless weddings, funerals, and special events. Everyone had a favorite song that they enjoyed Larry to sing, including The Lord’s Prayer, One in a Million, If I Can Help Somebody, I Trust In God, Through a Storm, Going Home, It Is Well, and so much more. At the time of his passing, he fell asleep listening to some of his favorite classical music.
A dedicated community leader, Larry was involved with the Akron Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Les Belles Perles Cotillion for over twenty-five (25) years. He served as the Cotillion Music Director from 1983 to 1992. In 2007, he made his debut as the presenter for the Les Belles Perles Cotillion where thirty-nine (39) debutantes were presented to an audience of approximately 1,000 persons at the John S. Knight Convention Center. He continued his service as the cotillion presenter for many years, with the last being in 2025. Over the years, he was known for his meticulous attention to details and ensuring that all participants had a positive experience.
Additionally, Larry has been a member of many boards, commissions, and committees. His Board leadership included the Board of Directors for the Greater Akron Music Association (GAMA), the Summit Choral Society, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Akron Education Association, Steward Board of Wesley Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, and other community and professional organizations. His volunteer activities included the leadership committees for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF); Project GRAD Akron; YEPAW (Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop); Akron Chapter of the National Alliance of Black Educators; Akron Branch NAACP, the Summit County Chapter of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association (SCRTA); Leadership Akron Alumni Association, and a host of other organizations.
Recognizing His Contributions
In the community, Larry received numerous awards and recognitions for his community service and leadership, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award; Man of the Year Award from Wesley Temple A.M.E. Zion Church; Charles F. McDonald Kappa of the Year Award and countless awards and recognitions on the local, province, and national level of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and awards and recognitions from the United Negro College Fund, the Akron Public Schools, the Akron Chapter of the Ohio Black Women’s Leadership Caucus, Ohio Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc., “Village Keeper Award” from Akron UMADOAP; the United Way; and he was also recognized as the Delta Sweetheart by the Akron Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In 2024, he was honored by the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church at their annual Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Awards as the “Emeriti” recipient for his lifetime achievements as an educator and his community involvement.
Lawrence loved God, his family, music, great food, his fraternity, travelling, watching old movies, and spending time with family, friends, and his Kappa brothers. His love of family included the great love for Jackie’s family, including his devotion to his mother-in-law and the many aunts, uncles, and cousins, and he thoroughly enjoyed attending their reunions and family events.
He was preceded in death by his beloved parents; brother James Albert Butler; his grandparents, Lillie and Otto Stallings Sr., Lenora Coles and Robert Butler; father-in-law, Frank Silas Sr.; brother-in-law, Frank Silas-Jr.; special cousins, Jonathan Butler and Darryl E. Wilkins; and a host of relatives and friends.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of thirty-nine (39) years, Jacqueline A. Silas-Butler; loving and devoted son, Christopher M. Butler (both of Akron, Ohio); his loving and dear mother-in-law, Elizabeth Peterson Silas (Middletown, Ohio); nieces and nephews, Darrell “Timmy” Butler, Karen Butler, Cheryl Butler Henry Sweet, Tonya Butler, Michelle Butler Watson, Michael “Tony” Butler, Beth Butler, and Sean Franklin Silas (also godson); sisters-in-law, Rosemary Butler and Sara Silas; Goddaughter, Michelle J. Cooper; special cousins, Fletcher Tyrone Wilkins, Jeanette Stallings, Lessie Palms, and Patrick Johnson; his in-laws, Aunt Vernell Lane, Aunt Ann & Uncle Donald Tyree, and Uncle Gene & Aunt Katherine Snow; long-time friends, Gene Scruggs, Al Fitzpatrick, Aria Campbell, Debra & Marco Sommerville, Pamela Valentine, Angela Cooper, Belinda & Raymond Hinton, William & Adria Fields, and William Blake; and a host of great-nieces and nephews, cousins, fraternity brothers, former students, colleagues, and friends.
Tis sad to part with those we love,
While here on earth we stay.
But then a brighter thought comes,
We’ll meet again someday.
Donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to the Silas and Butler Family Fund (established in 2022) of the Akron Community Foundation, 345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307 or online: www.akroncf.org
Friends may call Friday, November 7, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 8 pm at Sommerville Funeral Services, 1695 Diagonal Road, Akron, Ohio.
Saturday, November 8, 2025, friends may call from 11:00 a.m. to noon, Arlington Church of God, 539 S Arlington St, Akron, OH 44306. Funeral services will immediately follow at Noon. Services being livestreamed on Arlington Church of God Facebook or YouTube Page.