Ivy M. Lawrence

Sunrise for Ivy Miriam Lawrence,daughter of Samuel and Elvira Wilson, came May 7, 1918 at Nabaclis Village on the East Coast of the Demerara River, in Guyana, South America. After a long, blessed and fulfilling life, sunset for Ivy occurred on Sunday December 8, 2019. Mom and her twin brother Ivan were the eldest of seven siblings: August, Woodrow, Edmay, Compton and Cecil Wilson. She received her education at the Nabaclis Public School after which she met and married William Lawrence. From that union came nine children, all of whom are here today. She and our Dad raised us in probably the littlest house, in a little village called Agricola, in what at the time was the little known country of Guyana in South America. There they struggled with the challenges of raising eight children in a one bedroom house. Along the way, they got some help from various family members, but Mom’s never ending dream of, and quest for a better life for all her children became an obsession. She prayed every night that we would all grow up to be professionals in whatever field we chose. And so, she and our Dad worked hard to accomplish that goal for all of us. Upon reflection, Mom extended herself throughout the years, in ways that seemed impossible. How do you do three jobs in a country like Guyana? She accepted several domestic jobs, and willingly performed many menial chores in order to fulfill her vision. She poured her heart, soul, talents and financial resources into making a better life for her children. Along the way, she taught us to fear God and to live in love and unity with each other; and to always reach back and help our younger siblings. This is a lesson that none of us has forgotten to this day. As we grew up, Mom stressed the value of a sound education and reminded us constantly that the only limitations in life are the ones we place on ourselves, and therefore the sky must be the ultimate limit. We were all naive enough to believe her and set our sights on reaching the skies. And, though we never quite got to the sky, she was quite happy with the fact that all of her children had become high achievers in our respective endeavors and professions. To know Ivy Lawrence was to love her. She truly understood the complexities of the human condition which led her to live her life with a set of religious and humanitarian principles which she perfected and practiced over her lifetime. By the power of example, she then passed those rules on to all of us…Live and Let Live, Respect Your Elders and Your Teachers, Respect the Law of the Land, Your Family and all those with whom you may interact. Give Up Your Birth-right for Peace and Share with others less fortunate than yourself. Mom always had a way of knowing which sibling needed her and provided assistance even before we could muster the courage to ask. Her favorite expression was, “Love is the Message.” A message that endures in her four generations of offspring’s. For those fortunate enough to have met this remarkable woman, the feedback has always been they felt love and respect and that in some small way, their lives had been changed for the better. How blessed and lucky we are that we were able to call her Mom. She was a God-fearing person. 20 years ago she became a member of Grace Presbyterian Church, under the pastoral care of Reverend Arthur Reynolds. Even after she became homebound, she looked forward to reading the weekly church bulletins. She knew the Bible well and could recite portions at will. As the Matriarch of our family, she took seriously the responsibility to be able to spontaneously produce a prayer, for any occasion and for anyone. With this talent, she brought peace and calm to everyone she met, regardless of the circumstances under which they met. For this, God blessed this gentle soul with longevity of Biblical proportions. In turn it allowed her to enjoy four generations of offspring’s, all endowed with her indomitable courage and spirit. She was preceded in death by her late husband William Robert Samuel Lawrence who passed in April 1984. She is survived by one sister Edmay Wilson, two sisters-in-law Joyce Wilson and Gloria Wilson nine children and their spouses. ….Joan Ewart (Thomas); William Lawrence (Lynette); Joseph Lawrence (Myrtle); Lynette Ralph (Michael); Charles Lawrence (Sheila); Norma Schwartz (Errol) Derrick Lawrence (Lisa); Eton Lawrence (Nolda) and Winston Knights (Hazel). In addition, Granny / Grandma Ivy leaves forty three grandchildren, forty eight great grandchildren, six great- great grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends. Rest in Peace Mom. We shall never forget.

Tributes

Ivy M. Lawrence

May 7, 1918 - December 8, 2019