Family holds out hope in search for missing Greene County man

GREENE COUNTY, Ga. — It's been nearly 7 months since a Greene County grandfather disappeared with his family praying he'd return in time for Christmas.

Charles Lawson's family is a big one and they say there's a huge hole in it, ever since he disappeared.

"It was just one of those days where he decided he wanted to get up and walk and he never did come back," son-in-law David Smith said.

That was June 6 2013. He was sitting outside his daughter's home on Union Point Highway in Greene County. It was the last place his family saw him.

"He'd sit out here and just wave at everybody. He's been in this community for what over 30 years," daughter Rebecca Smith said.

Going through the holidays without him, they say, was probably the hardest part.

"He'd do anything for anybody. He's got grandkids, great grandchildren and he's missing all of that," Rebecca Smith said.

Back in June, hundreds of deputies, police and volunteers searched for Lawson but found nothing. And they've been searching ever since.

"Just a complete vanish. There's nothing no physical evidence, no articles of clothing, nothing on his person, no leads, no sightings, nothing," David Smith said.

"(We) don't know where to turn, just don't have a clue," son-in-law Jason Bryan said.

A Greene County sheriff's deputy told Channel 2's Erin Coleman they have used all of their resources, exhausted all of their leads, but this is still an active investigation and they are desperately looking for help from the public.

"If you picked him up anybody picked him up or seen the least little thing on June 6 at 2:06 p.m., tell us. I don't care what it was," said daughter Patricia Bryan.

"We've had his 77 birthday, Christmas and now the new year. We just need something," Rebecca Smith said.

Something, anything while they hold out hope that he comes home.

"He's going to show up, he's going to walk in," Patricia Bryan said.

"Until we've got something to put our arms around, there will always be hope," David Smith said.

The family has also set up a Facebook page to help generate leads called "Find Charles Lawson."

If you have any information on where he might be, investigators ask that you call the Greene County Sheriff's Office at 706-453-3351.

WSBTV