Justin C. Lavis

Justin C. Lavis, 48, of Columbia, Maryland, passed away suddenly on Monday, February 26, 2024, at his home. His loss is entirely unexpected, and his family is deeply saddened.

Justin was born on January 1, 1976, to James Curtis Lavis and Kathleen Rau Lavis in Washington, DC.  His family moved to Columbia, MD, in 1979, where he attended Howard County Schools from K-12.  Growing up, Justin participated in Boy Scouts and deeply loved animals. For several years, you could find him at the local pet store, where, on many occasions, and much to his mother's surprise, he would bring home a pet. He also enjoyed tinkering with anything mechanical and could fix just about anything by the age of 11. Justin was always active in many different sports but truly excelled at football. He was selected as one of the top 33 high school football players in 1994 and represented Team Maryland in the Chesapeake Classic played at Memorial Stadium. After graduating from Hammond High School in 1994, he studied communications at Western Maryland College (currently McDaniel College). During college, Justin was a dominant defensive end for the Green Terror football team, starting all four years and earning a First Team All-Centennial Conference and Second Team All-American his senior year. The Green Terror were also crowned Centennial Conference champions that year.

After graduating with his B.A. in communications in 1998, Justin worked in the insurance and financial industry for several years. In 2015, he left the insurance industry. Justin started his own hospitality business, becoming the sole supplier of food and beverages at Merriweather Post Pavilion, where he had worked for nearly 25 seasons, including seasonal positions in high school. He was an integral and cornerstone member of the Merriweather family and will be deeply missed. 

If you have ever enjoyed the Symphony of Lights over the Christmas holiday, you have experienced Justin’s handy work. Justin has been involved with the Symphony of Lights since its inception. He has been a critical contributor to the event's design, construction, and management, bringing joy and holiday tradition to the Maryland community. 

Justin was predeceased by his father, James Curtis Lavis, who died on May 26, 1986.  He is survived by his mother, Kathleen Rau Lavis; his brother, Jeffrey Robert Lavis; his sister-in-law, Danielle Guido Lavis; and his niece, Taylor Paige Lavis.  Justin and his family were incredibly close, living 5 miles from one another. You never saw Justin without Jeff, and vice versa. They were inseparable. Justin’s sense of humor was legendary, and his most common target was his mother, Kathleen. His pranks became family folklore, and he always brought laughter and joy to every family gathering. Justin’s love for his niece, Taylor, was undeniable. He was her godfather, and they loved each other very much. Justin loved nothing more than teasing his niece, Taylor Paige. 

Justin loved to cook, and his meals were unforgettable. Whether it was a holiday feast, a fantasy football draft party, or just an afternoon BBQ, you left stuffed with five pounds of leftovers.  Justin also loved his rescue dog, Jake. There isn’t a toy in the world Jake cannot destroy, and you could find Justin several days a week at the pet store buying him replacements. There wasn’t anything Justin wouldn’t do for Jake.

Justin’s departure comes as a great shock. The sadness is profound, and it is gravely felt by his family and countless friends who love him deeply.  Justin was a humble servant to his friends, family, and community. Justin was very charitable with his time and money and never wanted credit or the spotlight. He treated everyone with kindness and respect. The void Justin has left will never be filled, but his memory will live on in those who knew and loved him. What he stood for and how he treated people are examples for all. 

A visitation is scheduled for 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 7th, at Donaldson Funeral Home of Clarksville, P.A., 12540 Clarksville Pike (Rt. 108), Clarksville, MD. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 8th, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. Please follow the parking attendants on the day of the memorial. Interment will immediately follow at Crestlawn Memorial Gardens in Marriottsville, MD. The family will host friends and family back at Merriweather Post Pavilion, beginning at 3:15 p.m. and continuing until 5:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend, share stories, and visit with one another. 

The family deeply appreciates your support during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate in Justin’s name to either the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in honor of Justin’s father, who was a Vietnam combat veteran and died due to exposure to Agent Orange. You can also contribute by sharing memories of our beloved Justin on our memorial website, which will remain indefinitely. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Justin C. Lavis, please visit our floral store.