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Lawrence Downey Ridley Jr. was born on February 4, 1959 to the Late Lawrence Downey Ridley and Shirley Ann (Martin) Ridley. He was the first of their two children, Lawrence and Steve.
Lawrence, better known as Lonnie, grew up on Warren street in Dorchester, Massachusetts. As a child, he attended Charles Street AME church. Lonnie attended David A. Ellis Elementary school in Roxbury, MA. He then attended the Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, MA until being accepted into METCO, where he graduated from Westwood High in 1978. He later attended Wentworth School of Technology in Boston, MA.
Lonnie had a love for cars and motorcycles. He enjoyed working on both and would sometimes work in his father’s auto body shop on Parker Hill Ave in Boston, MA. Lonnie was known as “Top Gun” for his skills and ability to maneuver his motorcycle. Top Gun was known for jumping the wall on Blue Hill Avenue and “walking the bike” on Martin Luther King Boulevard, paving the way for fellow riders.
Lonnie was always gainfully employed. He worked at Deer Island prison as a Correctional Officer for several years. He also did security for the Washington Park Mall in Roxbury, MA for a few years until getting his job at Boston Edison, currently known as EverSource. He worked at Edison for 20 years until he was injured on the job and had to take an early retirement in 2010.
Lonnie then embarked on the next chapter of his life which entailed him on buying and selling various items. Lonnie always had a knack of buying and selling things going back as far as his elementary school days. He would buy candy, take it to school, and sell it to his fellow classmates for profit. Lonnie had no problem voicing his opinion on things he liked and did not like.
Lonnie was one of the most generous and loyal people you could come across in life. If you asked for something, he would give it to you; and if he did not have it, he would go above and beyond to get it for you. Lonnie was very kindhearted, a gentle soul.
As time went on, Lonnie’s health begun to fail him. He had been in and out of the hospital for over 2 years. The doctors did not expect him to live that long due to his ailments, they said he would not live for another 6 months. He died a couple times and was brought back to life because God said its not your time. Lonnie’s tenacity and will to live did not let what the doctors say be true. Lonnie fought a good fight, but on Friday October 2, 2020 God said now it is time for you to come home. Lonnie enjoyed life and loved to listen to Mariah Carey. He will be greatly missed.
Lonnie leaves to cherish his memories: his brother Steve Anthony Ridley; his nieces Shelby Larena Ridley & Regina Ridley; his great-nephew June Anthony Ridley, his aunt Norma Bynoe of Boston, MA, his sister-in-law Wanda Ridley; God son Marlon Regis Jr.; his cousins Judith Banks-Johnson (Carlos), Richard Banks (Annie), Stuart Banks, Terri Betts, Monique Bynoe, Tanya Williams-Regis (Marlon), Joy Shingles (Curtis), Martin Williams; and Pamela Fuller, dear friend close to Lonnie’s heart. Lonnie also leaves a host of family and friends to cherish his memories.
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