Dorcas Lawrence

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Dorcas Lawrence

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Emily Lawrence Family

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Celebrating A Life Well Lived


Delsie Lawrence Family

Dorcas Lawrence

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Una Lawrence Family

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Celebrating A Life Well Lived


Trevor Lawrence Family

Dorcas Lawrence

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Derrick Lawrence Family

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Celebrating A Life Well Lived


Anthony Lawrence Family

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Eulogy

The Life of Dorcas Lawrence

O

n the sixteenth day of March in the year of 1923, a beautiful baby girl was born to the parents of Horace and Zarah Hoilett. Her given name was Dorcas Hoilett, she entered this world in the district of Milford in the Parish of St. Ann, Jamaica. After her two siblings, Lucy and Naldy, were born, her Uncle took her to Jeffery Town in St. Mary to live with his family, and this is where she spent most of her childhood. After some time, her parents moved from St. Ann and reunited with her in St. Mary. Dorcas would tell many stories of her childhood while growing up with her Uncle, I can remember one story that she would tell of when, as a young child, she climbed a breadfruit tree, she started to fall out of the tree but, her dress got caught on the tree stump, thus preventing her from falling to the ground. At the age of eighteen, she met a wonderful and handsome young man who swept her off her feet, his name was Walter Lawrence, she was his pride and joy; they fell in love, indeed, he had found his missing rib. The two courted for a long time before their marriage, and eventually out of that union, twelve children were born. Dorcas continued to live with her mother for the first five years of marriage while Walter went to the United States to work; Upon returning to Jamaica, Walter built a beautiful home for his family in Spring Gardens and the family grew as they had more children; She was also blessed with two stepchildren that she took in as her own to complete the family. Time would have failed to tell of the many things Dorcas accomplished as a wife and mother. Dorcas was faithful as a wife and continued to work alongside her husband, and as a mother, the testament would show that she loved all her kids equally. As young children, she would make sure that we all attended school and she would always remind us that she didn’t get an education but, “unuh ah gwaan a school to learn fi read and write.” I was always amazed at how my mother learned so many skills throughout her life, she would sell short-term crops so we could have lunch money for the week, she also knew how to make coconut oil, castor oil, butter, pone pudding and the famous blue tie leaf. Dorcas wore many hats, she was a seamstress, a doctor, a nurse at night for the colics, toothaches, fever, mumps, measles, pink eye, and let’s not forget the sore foot and toes etc. Dorcas never had to go to the Doctor since she had a remedy for everything. She would be the first one up at day break roasting breadfruit and making

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tea for us to go to school and for Walter to go to work; After all of that, she would be the last to go to bed even though she had her quiver full. One morning we were awakened to a young girl standing in our living room, she was only four years old, this child had been left by the roadside. Walter and Dorcas took her in and took care of her until she was eighteen. Dorcas was well known in the community, so all the kids would congregate at her house to receive a cooked meal. Even though she had twelve of her own, she still treated the community kids as her own, she would always give guidance and impart wisdom to them. When we were children, we couldn’t get away with anything, it would either be wait until Walter come home, or a weapon of mass destruction such as a whip, stick, anything she could get her hand on. She eventually moved from Spring Garden to Halifax to take care of her father- in-law, and that’s where her last two kids were born. Not only was she tasked with the care of her father-in-law, but she also had to take care of her disabled brother-in-law. She also had to juggle parenting of her children and grandchildren. One day while making breakfast she saw two brothers fighting and one was about to drown the other, she ran from making the breakfast yelling “nuh kill him, nuh kill him” and went and pulled them apart. That’s the type of community person she was. Dorcas was not a religious person, but a child of God, she was first confirmed in the Anglican faith, and after she migrated to the USA she gave her life to the Lord; While living in Toledo, Ohio, she was buried in baptism in Jesus’ Name and God filled her with the Holy Ghost. When she came back home to Jamaica, she would visit any available place of worship. During her final days on earth, she grew frail and weak, yet, she was content with whatever sickness came her way; She was admitted to the hospital twice, during her time of illness, she put up a courageous fight. And as always, she did things her way, on the nineteenth of June at 7:30 am she surrendered her last breath to death. Dorcas is survived by her children: Thelma (stepdaughter), Emily, Delsie, Una, Trevor, Derrick, Antony, Carlton, Floret, Sonia, Evan, Orville, and Steve; 33 grandchildren; 71 great grandchildren; 22 great great grandchildren, and a whole host of family and friends. Dorcas, May the Lord Bless you and keep you, The Lord Make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace, Number 6:24-26.

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Dorcas & Children

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Dorcas & Grandchildren

Dorcas Lawrence 13


Carlton Lawrence Family

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Floret McClean Family

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Sonia Lawrence-Graham Family

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Evan Lawrence Family

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Orville Lawrence Family 18 Celebrating A Life Well Lived


Steve Lawrence Family

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