Lawton has been in the appraisal business since 1978 and has been a Designated SRA member of The Appraisal Institute since 1984. Lawton and his wife Alice formed Grantham Appraisal & Realty, Inc. in 1985 after moving back to Columbus, Georgia from the Atlanta area. Lawton is a Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser in Georgia and Alabama.

Lawton and Alice have two awesome sons, Lawton, III who works in Buckhead (Atlanta) and is in school at The Art Institute of Atlanta and Michael who is attending Columbus State University.  Lawton's interest are water sports, fishing and hiking.  And when time allows, sitting on the beach and doing nothing.