Joshua David-Ray Lawson

OZARK…Joshua David-Ray Lawson, a resident of Ozark, gained his wings late Tuesday evening, July 15, 2025, at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham. He was 16.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, July 26, 2025, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Charles Goldsmith officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 2:00 P.M. Saturday at the funeral home. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.

Joshua was born and raised in the close-knit town of Ozark, Alabama, where he made deep and lasting connections throughout his life. He attended Ozark City Schools and proudly wore the jersey of the Carroll High School Eagles Basketball Team. Whether it was practice or game day, Joshua gave it his all on the court—never afraid to dive for the ball or cheer on a teammate. His love for basketball wasn’t just about scoring points—it was about friendship, teamwork, and feeling like part of something bigger.

Joshua had a special way of connecting with people. He had one of those smiles that could light up a whole room—it was genuine, warm, and came from a heart full of love. Everyone who met Joshua could feel his kindness. He was the kind of young man who would wave at neighbors from across the street, share his favorite songs, or stop to ask how someone’s day was going just to make them feel seen.

Music was one of Joshua’s great loves. Whether he was tapping his foot to the beat or singing along with his favorite tunes, music made him feel alive. He dreamed of being a DJ someday, spinning tracks that would get people dancing and smiling just like he always did. He also had a real gift when it came to cars, especially modified ones. He could spot a cool ride from a mile away and was always curious about how they worked. Becoming an automobile mechanic was one of his biggest dreams, and he talked about it often, imagining a future where he'd fix up cars and make them shine.

And if you asked him about the NBA? His eyes would light up. Joshua loved the game so much that he dreamed of one day playing on the big stage—not just for fame, but because he believed in chasing your passion, no matter what.

More than anything, Joshua loved people. He had a way of making others feel important just by being himself. Whether it was friends at school, teammates, teachers, or someone he met just once, Joshua left an impression that never faded.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Wanda Jean Green, Andrew Elton Green, and Sherry Allen; great-grandparents, Karen Davis, Jeanette Graham, and Charles Graham; his puppy dog, Chopalop.

Surviving relatives include his parents, Courtney Nichole Kuns (Jason Finley) and Marshall Dean Lawson (Courtney); three sisters, Savanna Nichole Lawson, EzraLee M. Lawson, and Kylie Jean Hand; grandparents, Tammy Lynn Collins, Jeff Collins, Charles Ray Kuns, Jr., and Jerri Elizabeth Kuns; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be members of the Carroll High School Basketball Team.