Champion, Cecil Lamar, Jr., Lt. Col. USMC (Ret.) Lamar Champion, as he was known to many, is now wheels up on his final flight. A Naval Aviator for his entire career in the United States Marine Corps, Lamar died peacefully at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, Mississippi on December 16, 2022, at the age of 99. Lamar lived a remarkable life in service to his God, his family, and his country.
Lamar’s service to his country as a Naval Aviator saw him assigned to HMX-1, the Marine Helicopter Squadron that was the flight mission for Marine One. He served as a pilot of Marine One during the Presidential Administrations of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and President John F. Kennedy. During his tour in Southeast Asia (1959-1960) he served on several occasions as the pilot for President Chiang Kai-shek of the Republic of China (Taiwan). His service also saw him flying relief missions from Hawaii to mainland China after WW II, as a photo reconnaissance pilot in Korea flying recon jets into North Korea with no defensive weapons other than an aircraft that could fly higher and faster than the Migs of the enemy, as a Naval flight instructor at Pensacola, Florida, and as the commanding officer of a Marine helicopter squadron at the Marine Air Facility attached to the El Toro Marine Base
Lamar retired from the Marine Corps in May 1964 and returned to his hometown of Montgomery, Alabama to enjoy a very successful career in the life and health insurance business earning the designation of CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter). In service to God, he was both a Deacon and Elder in the Presbyterian Church. In his civic life, Lamar served as Chairman of the Montgomery City/County Personnel Board and President of the Capital City Kiwanis Club.
In 1995, Lamar and his wife, Mary, moved to St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, Mississippi where he became an active member of the Walter Scott Coffee Club and presided over a weekly current affairs program at St. Catherine’s for more than 15 years. After Mary’s death, he began a new chapter in his life by marrying Fannie Chance in 2006. During Lamar and Fannie Chance’s marriage, they travelled several times a year to Elderhostel programs and visited friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his father, Cecil Lamar Champion, Sr., his mother, Louise Sanford Champion, his wife of more than 60 years, Mary Graham Champion, and his second wife of nearly 14 years, Fannie Chance Taylor Champion. Lamar is survived by his son, Graham Champion (Linda) Pike Road, Alabama, his daughter, Celie Edwards (Eddy) Madison, Mississippi, grandsons Matthew Champion (Katie) West Palm Beach, Florida, Martin Edwards (Annie) Franklin, Tennessee and Lee Walden of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is also survived by four great grandchildren, Madison and Landon Champion of West Palm Beach, Florida, Bella Edwards, Franklin Tennessee and Nate Walden of Colorado Springs, Colorado as well as stepsons George Taylor, MD (Marilyn) of Charleston, South Carolina, Dick Taylor (Nina) of Atlanta, Georgia and stepdaughter Bettye Taylor of Charleston, South Carolina.
A graveside celebration of life will be held at Old Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama at 2:00 PM on January 6, 2023. The Celebration of Life will be presided over by Lamar and Mary’s grandson, Matthew Champion, Pastor at Family Church, West Palm Beach Florida.
The family wishes to thank the amazing people of St. Catherine’s Village of Madison, Mississippi who cared for Lamar with their hearts as well as their hands! In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the St. Catherine’s Village Employee Christmas Fund or your favorite charity.
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