James E. "Sonny" Dawson Jr.

September 3, 1948 - September 15, 2018

James Edward “Sonny” Dawson Jr. passed away peacefully on September 15, 2018 at the age of 70, surrounded by family. He was born September 3, 1948 in Kansas City, MO shortly before his family moved to Miami, Florida. Miami is where he met the love of his life Julianna “Judy” Dawson, to which he was married for 48 years. They moved in 1972 to Birmingham, Alabama to what was considered at the time the epicenter of stock car racing. Auto racing was his true passion, and he would race for the next 20 years. His most proud accomplishment came in 2014, when he was inducted into The Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers Hall Of Fame. He opened Sonny Dawson Auto Sales in 1978 and would continue to operate it for the next 40 years until his passing. Sonny never met a stranger, and had the ability to light up a room with his personality. Never being lost for words and loving to laugh, he will certainly be missed by many. He loved his family to the fullest and never missed an opportunity to tell them he loved them. He is survived by his wife Judy Dawson, three sons, J.E. (Melaine), Lonnie (Leslie), Billy (Laura), and his six Grandchildren which he loved unconditionally. They meant the world to him. The arrangement are as follows: McCalla Memorial Funeral Home Saturday, September 22, 2018, Visitation beginning at 4 P.M.with the Memorial Service beginning at 5 P.M