Waffle House regular's funeral held at restaurant in Jefferson

JEFFERSON - When Lawrence ``Tuna&#39;&#39; Clark died without many relatives to eulogize him, the folks at the Waffle House where he ate once a day took matters into their own hands and had a funeral for him at the restaurant. <br> <br> About three dozen waitresses, cooks and patrons gathered Thursday to remember Clark, who was known to many as ``the Waffle House taxi service&#39;&#39; because he drove people to work when they didn&#39;t have transportation. <br> <br> Clark&#39;s cremated remains were placed on the hood of a Chevrolet parked in his favorite parking space. Large boards displaying family photos were covered with funeral wreaths and loose flowers. <br> <br> Inside the restaurant, Clark&#39;s niece set up his favorite chair with his jacket slung on the back. Black coffee, milk and cigarettes sat on the counter. <br> <br> The niece, Joyce Bicksler, said, ``He wanted people to remember him as he was. He didn&#39;t want to be in a casket. He wanted to be here.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Clark, a 67-year-old bachelor, died last Friday after a prolonged illness. <br> <br> Waitress Terri Treadaway gave thanks to Clark for driving her to the Highway 129 Waffle House every day for three months when her car was broken. He was known for ordering scrambled eggs on lightly toasted bread, but he would eat just about anything on the menu. <br> <br> Treadaway said, ``You could go from Braselton to the South Carolina line, and people in Waffle House will know him.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> One of the reasons he went to so many of the restaurants was that he continued to help Waffle House employees he knew even after they got transferred or moved.