Obituary for Laurence L. "Larry" Christensen

Laurence L. "Larry" Christensen passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on July 25, 2017 following a valiant battle against cancer. Michigan born, Larry received his B. A. from Athenaeum of Ohio. Following several years of community service, including work with Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), he earned his J.D in 1976 from Emory University School of Law.
A long time champion of the injured and disabled, Larry focused his legal skills on Workers' Compensation, Social Security Disability, Guardianship and Special Needs Trusts. Practicing with Burgess (Anjel) and Christensen at the time of death, he partnered several years with attorney Winnie P. Pannell, and practiced decades as Laurence L. Christensen, P.C. A staunch advocate of alternative dispute resolution, in 1995 he founded Georgia Mediation Services. He enjoyed this opportunity to mediate workers' compensation cases. In 2015 the Georgia Supreme Court awarded him the prestigious Distinguished Service Award for outstanding public service to Georgia's judiciary.
Larry was "a lawyer's lawyer." He relished research and writing. He published many professional articles and presented seminars in Georgia and nationally to medical providers, members of the Bar, and other organizations. A classicist, he enjoyed reading texts in ancient Greek and Latin. On the lighter side, he often offered an appropriate joke, frequently poking fun at himself, evoking smiles and laughter from clients, judges, colleagues, and friends. From the time he was a youngster he enjoyed playing his trumpet. His trumpet solo was a highlight of his 70th birthday party. Well into middle age Larry took up ballroom dancing, even entering into competitions. One of his favorite hobbies was wood working. He delighted in gifting beautiful bowls, paperweights and other items he crafted in his work shop. Larry's creativity and imagination led to his building an elaborate model train town for his young buddy, Nathan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Phyllis Christensen, Larry is survived by his sister, Mary McDonald, brother, Kevin Christensen, nieces and nephews, Sarah, James, Renee and Michael, as well as his Marietta family - Paula, Ron, Christina, Elizabeth, David, and Nathan Snively.
A Memorial Service for Larry will be held at King Funeral Home, 301 N. Jebavy Drive, Ludington, MI 49431 on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, August 12, 2017 from 10:00 until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Larry's memory to his favorite charities: The Atlanta Union Mission or the St. Vincent de Paul Society.