Mr. Lawrence Michael Armstead

Mr. Lawrence Michael Armstead was born on November 26, 1956, to the union of Lawrence and Willie Mae Armstead in St. Louis, Missouri. He was the youngest of three children. His father, Lawrence, mother, Willie Mae, brother, Warren Duff, and stepson, Demetrius Bernard, preceded him in death.

Michael, as he was called by family and friends, received his early education at Farragut Elementary and Beaumont High School. He confessed his faith in Christ at an early age under the leadership of the late Elder Justice Phillips of the Pentecostal Church of God in Christ.

Later, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and proudly served from November 1974 through November 1978. Michael earned his nickname Iron Mike while he was in the service. When he came home from the Marine Corps, anything pertaining to his life from that day forward was about being a Marine. In the winter or summer, if you would ask him if he was hot or cold, his response would be no, “I’m a Marine.”

He was not in the best health for many years, yet he never complained, “ Because my brother was a True Marine “! Michael worked at the United States Postal Service from 1980 through 1992 as a Mail Clerk. He took the early retirement and later worked as a temporary employee with Union Pacific Railroad with the Brush Crew.

Michael was a loving and devoted father, brother, uncle and friend. He truly stretched uncle because anyone he met that was younger than him, he would say you can just call me Uncle Michael. He enjoyed family gatherings and holidays. Christmas was his favorite holiday and it showed with his generous gifts of love. His signature phrase was “What’s Poppin?”

His favorite pastimes were cooking, watching television, shooting pool, and chatting for countless hours with his ‘remember when stories’ laughing loudly the entire time. He had the biggest smile and a very distinctive laugh. I’m surprised no one nicknamed him Smiley, as he always had a smile on his face.  After a lengthy illness, Michael transitioned this life on March 27, 2024, at 3:15 a.m. 

The life and legacy of Lawrence Michael Armstead will live forever in the hearts of his son, Michael Armstead; stepdaughter, Collette Barnes; his sister, Constance Washington; his nieces, Christine Washington, Denyse Miner, Sharonda Williams; his nephews, Tyree Washington, Stacy Hines; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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