Lawrence Komla Venyah was born on September 5, 1932, the eldest of four boys and two girls, to Titus Kweku Venyah, and Gertrude Sraku, in Likpe-Bakua, Ghana, West Africa.

From early childhood, Lawrence showed academic promise, graduating at the top of his class, and eventually earning scholarships to attend college at McGill University, in Montreal, Canada, and Michigan State University, in East Lansing, Michigan, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees, respectively.

While studying at MSU, Lawrence met Centennial Lue Allie Mixon. The two were married on April 22, 1967, and raised four sons: Norman, Titus, Michael, and Marcus.

Following his MSU graduation and wedding to Lue, Lawrence settled in Michigan, working for the Michigan Employment Security Commission (MESC), in Detroit, then the State of Michigan, in Lansing, as a personnel analyst, then an economic analyst, in the Department of Mental Health.

Despite the aforementioned achievements, academically, relationally, occupationally, between his childhood and middle adult years, Lawrence's greatest attainment occurred, spiritually, later in life, at approximately 70 years of age, when he chose to repent of his sins, commit his life to the Lord Jesus Christ, be filled with the Holy Ghost, and begin living as a born-again Christian, in obedience to the Word of God, the Bible.

Upon his conversion to Christ, Lawrence's life was transformed. He began reading and studying the Bible, day and night, and living in obedience to it. He actively attended, participated in, grew as a Christian in, and publicly preached the Gospel with, Soulwinners Ministries International, a church and missionary ministry pastored by one of his sons. In 2008, Lawrence returned to Ghana, as a missionary, with a suitcase full of Bibles, and distributed the Word of God to, and shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with, family, relatives, and as many as he could reach, for the Lord.

Lawrence continued in Biblical faith and obedience to Christ, loving his wife, sons, and grandchildren, fellowshipping with his church and Christian brethren, and compassionately, but uncompromisingly, sharing of the Gospel of Christ with non-Christians, until he went to eternally dwell with Jesus, on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, at 10:54am.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lue Allie Venyah; his sons Norman, Titus, Michael, Marcus and their wives; his many grandchildren; his sister Mary; his many cousins and relatives both in the US and Ghana.

Because of the man, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, that Lawrence is, in Christ, his physical presence is missed. But, if we choose to follow his example of Biblically believing and obeying the Lord Jesus Christ until the end of our earthly lives, we will also go to eternally dwell with Jesus, and, in Christ's Presence, we will also be reunited with Lawrence, again (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).



Mr. Venyah will lie in repose Sunday, February 14th, 1-3pm at Riley Funeral Home, 426 W. St. Joseph Street, Lansing, Michigan 48933.  Funeral service will be held Monday, February 15th, 11am at Grace Tabernacle Church, 1819 W. Willow, Lansing Michigan.  Family will receive friends thirty minutes prior to the funeral. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.rileyfuneralhome.com.