Lawrence Cheirs

Mr. Lawrence Cheirs, 73, of Hickman died Friday, April 24, 2026, at Fulton Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Johnson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Hickman City Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church.

Lawrence Alvin Cheirs (known to the community as Pibb) was born in Hickman, Kentucky to the late Odie and Mattie Mae Cheirs. Their family roots can be traced back to Palestine, Arkansas and Grand Junction, Tennessee. Pibb has had ten siblings to precede him in death. He was a member of Johnson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Hickman.

Life has a way of pulling people away from places they once loved, and Pibb loved the church. He was not a stranger to worship, and he was not a stranger to prayer. He knew what it felt like when the spirit of God would move through the church. But somewhere along life's road, the battle got heavy for Pibb, and addiction wrapped its hands around him. And the struggle pulled him farther than he ever intended to go. Even when Pibb strayed from the church, his heart never completely strayed from God.

Pibb leaves to celebrate his homegoing and to cherish his memories two sons; Anthony Purefide of Shelbyville, Tennessee and Lawrence Purefide of Union City, Tennessee; A young lady who was like a daughter to him, Carla Purefide of Shelbyville, Tennessee. Two sisters, Christine Whitelow of Hickman, Kentucky and Franzetta (Emmett) McNeil of Little Rock, Arkansas; Three brothers, Joe (Mary) Cheirs of Hickman, Kentucky, Ricky (Arnita) Cheirs of Fulton, Kentucky, and William Cheirs of Kansas City, Missouri, seventeen grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A few years ago, Pibb's health began to fail when he suffered from a stroke. Earlier this year, he suffered from a bilateral stroke and had many complications. The Lord saw that he was suffering and early on a Friday morning, April 24th, he called Pibb's name and Pibb answered.

McPhearson-Rawls Funeral Home - Union City 731-885-8110