Thomas Lawrence Cullipher

Raleigh - Thomas ‘Lawrence’ Cullipher, devoted husband and father, passed unexpectedly at home with his wife by his side on April 13, 2022. Lawrence was born in Colerain, NC to the late Louis Arnold and Lottie Lawrence Cullipher. Lawrence was a member of Colerain Baptist Church. After graduating from Frederick Military Academy in Portsmouth, Va. in 1965, Thomas enlisted in the United States Air Force. Sergeant Cullipher served his country at Incirlik,Turkey AFB, during the Vietnam War, as a Cryptographics Supervisor. Lawrence attended Chowan University, then went on to NC State University, pursuing a degree in Computer Science. Lawrence began his career with Harrington Manufacturing Company as a IT Manager, the first Pinehurst Hotel and Country Club IT Manager, System’s Engineer with Honeywell on the Computer side, that competed with IBM at the time, in mainframe environment. Founder and owner of Interstate Computer Systems, LLC., where he worked in developing very early police applications for many small Police Departments, Utilities & Tax Billing for small townships, Government Financial Applications from California to all over the country. Software engineer at Infocel, Programer for EDS Corp. While at EDS he was assigned to RPD for three years as a contractor to maintain, update, and enhance the 911 cad system. This led to the last position he held as The Raleigh Police Departments first civilian Information Service Manager. He retired January 1, 2021. In addition to becoming the first civilian IT Manager, Lawrence spearheaded the development of ‘Police Mobile’, an innovation that allowed for paperless report transmission in all police vehicles. His greatest joys in life was working alongside the Raleigh Police Officers he so admired and respected, the IT staff, playing his favorite sport of golf with his son & home golf course league led by friend Jim Hourigan, Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Raleigh. One of his specials honors was being invited to play in the 2009 AT&T National Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am at The Congressional Country Club, in DC. The best times of life were celebrated with his children, grandchildren and the love of his lifetime, his wife of the home, Judy Cullipher. Lawrence is survived by and will be greatly missed by his wife, Judy Lamb Cullipher of the home; three sons, Thomas Cullipher, Jr. (Jennifer) Raleigh, Worth Cullipher (Pamela), Franklinton, NC, Brad Cullipher of Pittsburg, PA; daughters, June Lamb and Julie Lamb Lewis (Michael) of Knightdale, NC; brother, Lou Cullipher (Diane) of Cary, NC; grandchildren, Thomas III, Cody Lamb, Shannon DeMaria (Dave), Joshua, Nathan & Sophia; great-grandchildren, Jaxon & Roman. Also, his special friends, Sgt. John Maultsby, Sgt. Ted Reeves & Retired Sgt. Tom Dunn of RPD, Rev. CW Hicks, many neighbors, golfing friends & special friends and family in SC. A memorial service will be, Saturday, April 23, 2022, at 2:00 PM, at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, in Garner, NC, conducted by family friends, Dr. Danny Bright and Sergeant John Maultsby with Raleigh Police Department. There will be a visitation the night prior, Friday, April 22, 2022, from 6:00-8:00 PM, also at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home in Garner, NC. Thomas is entombed at Historic Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh. Online condolences can be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com.